Gas prices nationwide could increase by 10 cents or more by this time next week.

Officials from AAA have said that Tropical Storm Issac, which is currently ripping across the Gulf of Mexico, will shut down offshore oil rigs.

The National Hurricane Center has predicted that the tropical storm will become a hurricane on Tuesday with 74 to 95 mph winds. It is expected to hit from an area southwest of New Orleans to the edge of Florida’s panhandle.

According to gasbuddy.com, the cheapest unleaded gas available in Plainfield as of Monday afternoon was $3.99 per gallon, seen at numerous local fueling stations, which means gas prices could be well over the $4 mark by Labor Day.

Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of unleaded was $3.75 on Monday, up nearly 30 cents from a month ago.

Tropical Storm Isaac targeted a broad swath of the Gulf Coast on Monday, bearing down just ahead of the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The potential for a landfall as a Category 1 hurricane as soon as Tuesday prompted evacuations along a wide area of the Gulf Coast and sent people out to stock up on staples.

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