In a stretch of trading defined by a barrage of chilly weather systems, weekly cash prices consistently gained ground amid steady heating demand across much of the Lower 48.

Storage Report

NGI’s Weekly Spot Gas National Avg. for the April 12-16 period climbed 24.5 cents to $2.495, with cash prices advancing four of the trading week’s five days.

The May Nymex natural gas futures contract, meanwhile, also forged ahead and settled at $2.680/MMBtu to close the trading week, up 6% from the prior week’s finish. Futures finished up at the close of four of the week’s five trading sessions as well.

Chilly conditions moved in early and hung around for the week across much of the eastern half of the United States, with lows in the 20s in some regions, driving solid demand.

Weekly cash price...