By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Gasoline prices are falling for people traveling this Labor Day weekend. But the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto will put a damper on outdoor activities.
More than 35 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, mostly by car. Here in the Buffalo area, people will be paying $2.98 a gallon for gasoline. That's about ten cents a gallon less than the price in early August, but about 30-cents more than it was at the start of the Labor Day weekend last year. But in 2005, the impact of Hurricane Katrina led to a drastic spike in prices in the days following Labor Day.
Triple A spokeswoman Diana Dibble says many travelers will be staying in state or in the neighboring New England region.
While skyrocketing gasoline prices were a cause of concern last Labor Day, this year people will be dealing with wet weather. National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Paone says Saturday will be a wash-out as heavy rains arrive from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto. He says conditions may be marginally better Sunday.
Right now, it appears Monday will be the best day of the holiday weekend. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with highs in the mid 70s for those end-of-the-summer picnics.