NOW VERSUS LATER. MIKE. YEAH, AND GOOD MORNING. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY STANDING RIGHT OUTSIDE THE GAS STATION HERE AT WATT AND EL CAMINO. THE CURRENT PRICE OF A GALLON OF GAS HERE IS $4.15. AND HERE AND ELSEWHERE, WELL EXPECTED TO FEEL THE IMPACTS OF WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A DOUBLE WHAMMY OF PRICE INCREASES THIS TIME OF YEAR. THAT IS BECAUSE IN THE PAST MONTH, ACCORDING TO GASBUDDY, PRICES HAVE JUMPED AT LEAST $0.29 A GALLON IN THE SACRAMENTO REGION. THAT INCREASE, DUE LARGELY TO THE USUAL SEASONAL DYNAMICS, WHICH INCLUDE A TRANSITION IN FUEL BLENDS BETWEEN WINTER AND SUMMER BLENDS. BUT NOW, GASBUDDY SAYS WE ARE ABOUT TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE SITUATION IN IRAN, INCREASING PRICES AS SOON AS TONIGHT. LEADING ONE WOMAN THIS MORNING TO SAY THIS. MOMENTS AGO. YEAH, EVERYONE HAVE TO SUCK UP. I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND SO WHAT DOES IT IS WHAT IT IS MEAN FOR YOU. WELL, IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO FILL UP, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO SO ON YOUR WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING VERSUS WAITING UNTIL AFTER WORK TO DO IT ON THE WAY HOME. BECAUSE AS GASBUDDY IS PREDICTING, WE’RE GOING TO START SEEING THOSE IMPACTS ON THE PRICES AND IT COULD START BEING REFLECTED AS SOON AS TONIGHT. LIVE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, MIKE TESELLE KCRA THREE NEWS. ALL RIGHT, MIKE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT LIVE REPORT. MEANTIME, AN INDEPENDENT OIL ANALYST, EXCUSE ME, TO THE GULF OIL, SAID HE DOES
Seasonal dynamics with summer blend, Iran a double whammy for California gas prices
Updated: 8:41 AM PST Mar 2, 2026
At a time when gas prices have already seen a steady increase in the past month, the situation in the Middle East is likely to push prices even higher in California.In the past month, the price of a gallon of gas in the Sacramento region has risen by more than 29 cents a gallon, largely due to a traditional switch in seasonal fuel blends.”The national average price of gasoline has climbed for a fourth straight week, driven primarily by seasonal tightening and broader market dynamics,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.Now, prices are expected to climb higher as crude oil prices are surging following military action in Iran.| RELATED READ | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks after strikes on Iran”Looking ahead, markets will now begin reacting to this weekend’s U.S.-Iran attacks, which have elevated geopolitical risk premiums even in the absence of immediate supply disruption,” said De Haan.| VIDEO BELOW | Iranian-Americans in Sacramento region protest against Islamic regime, support strikesGasBuddy predicted prices at the pump could begin rising as early as Monday night.So, filling up sooner rather than later Monday could potentially save you money at the gas pumps. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
At a time when gas prices have already seen a steady increase in the past month, the situation in the Middle East is likely to push prices even higher in California.
In the past month, the price of a gallon of gas in the Sacramento region has risen by more than 29 cents a gallon, largely due to a traditional switch in seasonal fuel blends.
“The national average price of gasoline has climbed for a fourth straight week, driven primarily by seasonal tightening and broader market dynamics,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
Now, prices are expected to climb higher as crude oil prices are surging following military action in Iran.
| RELATED READ | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks after strikes on Iran
“Looking ahead, markets will now begin reacting to this weekend’s U.S.-Iran attacks, which have elevated geopolitical risk premiums even in the absence of immediate supply disruption,” said De Haan.
| VIDEO BELOW | Iranian-Americans in Sacramento region protest against Islamic regime, support strikes
GasBuddy predicted prices at the pump could begin rising as early as Monday night.
So, filling up sooner rather than later Monday could potentially save you money at the gas pumps.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel