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DALLAS — Drivers lined up at gas pumps in parts of Texas Aug. 31 as more stations ran out of gas and prices rose steeply in response to Hurricane Harvey’s impact on Gulf Coast refineries.

Hurricane Harvey strengthened as it headed toward landfall in Texas, forecast to become the worst storm to strike the region in more than a decade. The price of gasoline rallied as the storm threatened to wreak havoc on the heart of America’s energy sector.

The U.S. average retail price of diesel rose 1.6 cents to $2.507 as crude climbed later in the week of July 24 to its highest price in nearly two months and Saudi Arabia announced it would make additional cuts in oil production, experts said.

Motorists don’t like to pay more at the pump, and lawmakers worry that if they raise taxes on gasoline, they’ll be voted out of office.

Oil extended gains from the highest close in seven weeks as industry data showed U.S. crude stockpiles plunged, easing a glut.

The U.S. average retail price of diesel set a new low for the year, falling 2.4 cents to $2.465 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported.

Oil slipped to the lowest since November as weaker demand at the start of the summer driving season led to another increase in gasoline stockpiles.

The California Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown just passed a bill that will plow $52.4 billion in taxes and fees aimed at shoring up California’s freeways, roads and bridges.

American drivers paying the most for gasoline since 2015 can take some comfort from forecasts that prices don’t have much further to rise.