Higher gas prices, rain mark holiday commute in Rock Hill region. Here’s what to know.
Rainy weather, higher gas prices and a record number of travelers will mark this year’s holiday commute.
More than 4.9 million South and North Carolina residents plan to travel through Jan. 1, a 3.9% increase from last year, reports AAA Carolinas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association. That number includes residents traveling by planes, trains and cars.
More than 1.4 million South Carolina residents and 3 million North Carolina residents are expected to drive for the holidays, according to AAA Carolinas.
Many drivers will have to pay more at the gas pump than last year.
South Carolina’s average gas price as of Monday was $2.28 a gallon, a 30-cent increase from this time last year, according to AAA Carolinas. Gas in Rock Hill averaged $2.25 a gallon as of Monday.
In North Carolina, the average as of Monday was $2.41 a gallon, a 20-cent increase from last year’s average, according to AAA Carolinas. For the Charlotte region, Monday’s average was $2.35 a gallon.
“While most Carolinians will be paying higher gas prices than last year, that won’t stop them from hitting the road during this time of the year to spend time with family and friends,” Tiffany Wright, AAA Carolinas spokesperson, said in a prepared statement. “Everyone needs to prepare now for crowded roadways and airports, as this marks the highest travel volume for the year-end holidays in the Carolinas.”
Last minute holiday commuters in the Charlotte and Rock Hill region faced rain and fog Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Isolated flooding and heavy winds were possible in upstate South Carolina and the Charlotte region through Monday night, according to the weather service.
Showers were expected to clear by Tuesday.
On Christmas Eve, the high is 63 degrees and the low is 36 during the night in the Rock Hill and Charlotte region, according to the weather service. Sunny skies and a high near 58 degrees is expected for Christmas Day. Temperatures will drop into the high thirties Christmas night.
