Gas prices across San Diego County continued their relentless climb Tuesday, with the average price for a gallon of self-serve regular reaching $5.808 — the highest since October 22, 2023 — and marking the 28th straight day of increases, according to figures from AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

The average has jumped $1.00 in just 28 days, rising 29.1 cents in the past week alone. For Santee residents filling up a 15-gallon tank, that translates to roughly $87 per fill-up \u2014 about $15 more than just a month ago.

The surge accelerated sharply after the joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran on Feb. 28, which sent oil prices higher and disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a statement Monday that upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to continue. \u201cUntil we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist,\u201d De Haan said. \u201cAt the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.\u201d

The county\u2019s current average of $5.808 is still 82.7 cents below the all-time San Diego record of $6.435 set on Oct. 5, 2022. Nationally, the average rose 7.2 cents to $3.79 on Monday \u2014 its highest since October 2023 \u2014 up 80.8 cents over 17 days.

Drivers looking for the best prices in East County can use apps like GasBuddy or AAA\u2019s TripTik to locate lower-cost stations. Filling up in the morning, when temperatures are cooler and fuel is slightly denser, and avoiding premium unless your vehicle requires it can also help offset the pain at the pump.