Chicago-area gas prices are surging after a tornado nearly took out a refinery

Gas prices have surged in and around Chicago due to a recent tornado affecting a major oil refinery. The average price per gallon of gas in Chicago is now $4.34, which is 27 cents higher compared to the previous week. The tornado narrowly missed the Joliet Refinery and caused power outages in Channahon, Illinois. Other metro areas in the region have also experienced significant increases in gas prices. In Gary, Indiana, the average price for regular gasoline has risen by 41 cents per gallon in the past week. Gas prices have also gone up in areas of Wisconsin and Michigan. The refinery is expected to be offline for an estimated three weeks, and the restart timeline is uncertain. Gasoline is being transported from the Gulf Coast to the Chicago area in the meantime. Suggestions have been made to relax gasoline quality specifications for metro areas to increase supply and lower prices.