Tuesday.

The Orange County average price is 24.9 cents more than one week ago and 14.7 cents more than one month ago but 26.7 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.601 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The Riverside County average price rose to its highest amount since June 11, increasing 3.3 cents Wednesday to $4.774.

The average price in Riverside County has risen 10 consecutive days, increasing 28 cents, including 5.6 cents Tuesday.

The average price in Riverside County is 26 cents more than one week ago and 16.5 cents higher than one month ago but 28.5 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.599 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“We tend to see these big weekly price spikes in Southern California at least once during the spring months since gasoline production can fluctuate greatly during refinery maintenance season,” Marie Montgomery, a public affairs specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California told City News Service.

Adding to the trouble is an explosion at the Martinez Refining Company in Northern California on Feb. 1 that sent plumes of smoke rising about 200 feet and led to medical personnel tending to six refinery workers. The refinery is still offline, constraining supplies across the state, and is not expected to return to full output until the fourth quarter of this year.

In addition, a major refinery in Torrance recently announced repair work to fix some units that had slowed or shut down.

“Things are much tighter this spring because of the lack of that capacity,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “It’s like the armor is already damaged and now the arrows are starting to penetrate.”

The price increase coincides with the transition California refineries make each year from winter-blended gasoline to summer blend. While the state’s unique summer mixture is less polluting, it adds about 15 to 20 cents to the price per gallon because of the oxygenates that go into the fuel.

The national average price rose for the ninth time in 10 days, increasing 3.7 cents to $3.238, its ninth increase in 10 days. The national average price has increased 11.2 cents over the past 10 days, including 3.3 cents Tuesday. It rose six consecutive days, increasing 3.3 cents, was unchanged Sunday and resumed increasing Monday.

The national average price is 8.8 cents more than one week ago and 14 cents higher than one month ago but 29.7 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.778 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

“We’ve seen the national average inch up for the second straight week, but with renewed refinery issues on the West Coast, gas prices there are likely to jump 10 to 35 cents per gallon over the next couple weeks,” said GasBuddy’s De Haan.

“As we head into April, Americans should expect gas prices to rise, with a peak that could occur in mid-to-late April. While average prices remain well below last year’s levels, we’ll likely begin to catch up, with prices expected to increase in most — if not all — states over the next few weeks,” De Haan said.

With prices higher a year ago, the spiking cost for a gallon of gasoline in 2025 didn’t faze every driver fueling up on Wednesday.

“I didn’t even notice,” Erica Mann told a photographer.

Reporter Rob Nikolewski of the San Diego Union-Tribune and photographer Drew A. Kelly of the Long Beach Press-Telegram contributed to this report.