Fargo  (AAA) – The national gas price average held steady at $2.56 last week, but motorists can expect some volatility at the pump in the coming days and weeks.

Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia experienced drone attacks on two major oil facilities – including the world’s largest, Abqaiq. The attacks have taken 5.7 million (crude) barrels per day off the market, accounting for about 6 percent of the global supply.

Initial market reaction to the attacks has spiked crude oil prices. Crude oil (West Texas Intermediate, WTI) is trading more than $5/bbl higher than at Friday’s closing — up to $61/bbl, a price point for crude not seen since May.

Motorists can expect local pump prices to start to increase this week. According to AAA, the jump could end up being as much as a quarter per gallon in the coming weeks.  Whether a short- or long-term trend will be determined by the price of crude oil prices and how quickly the facilities in Saudi Arabia can recover and get back online.

Monday’s national gas price average is 7 cents cheaper than last month and 28 cents cheaper than this time last year. In North Dakota, today’s average is also 7 cents cheaper than last month, but 26 cents cheaper than this time last year. These gaps are likely to shrink as the market adjusts to the news and crude oil prices increase.

For additional information on gas prices, visit AAA.com/Gas.