Takers for weekend and Monday physical gas deliveries were few and far between in Friday’s trading as weather forecasts proved moderate and Monday energy usage was expected to be less than Friday’s.

All but one point followed by NGI lost ground, and outside of the Northeast declines were just under a dime. Northeast locations posted heftier double-digit losses, and the NGI National Spot Gas Average lost 8 cents to $3.01.

Futures had difficulty as well. Traders concentrated on long-term storage surpluses going into light shoulder-season demand. At the close May had fallen 7.0 cents to $3.261 and June was lower by 7.0 cents as well to $3.331. May crude oil rose 54 cents to $52.24/bbl.

Futures traders are looking lower. “I’m bearish on the market,” said John Woods, president of JJ Woods and Associates. “We traded up to $3.34 [Friday], but I look at the fund buying earlier, as the funds getting out. If you had a rash of buying coming in, you would see a continuation, and that did not happen.

“Our contract high is $3.50, and the reason it didn’t run like crazy was the existing longs decided it was a good place to sell. You can’t make contract highs on a shoulder season. Temperatures in the East are going to be in the 60s and 70s, and just a couple of weeks ago we were under $3 and everyone was talking lower. In the winter we got below $2.60, and I said, ‘No Way’.

“A fund got out of their short position, and the smart money sold it. If you and I are sitting around knocking down a couple of margaritas, we are not going to sell $3.28s during the course of the day when you know it’s going to get up to $3.325 to $3.34 because that is where it is supposed to be technically. That’s where the selling comes in. Just sell the technical points.”

For the past three trading sessions the high on May futures has been within a cent of $3.34.

At the day’s open traders were questioning just how much more upside the market has left in it given currently ample storage.

If not outright bears, other traders are generally reluctant to follow the market higher but concede that the current surplus against five-year averages may not be enough to prevent a price response to early-season cooling load.

“[Thursday] saw the usual volatility spike post EIA storage release that lifted May futures back to the midweek highs of $3.35,” said Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates in a Friday morning report to clients. “We remain reluctant to follow this price advance given lack of weather related support within consensus of one- to two-week temperature views that still favor mild trends. Furthermore, we look for the storage surplus against five-year averages to stabilize in the 265-270 area for a couple of weeks with this supply cushion of almost 15% providing some offset against several non-weather supportive items.

“However, the recent price strength is sending off strong overtures that non-weather-related items have been increasing withdrawals while downsizing last week’s first injection of the season. Year-over-year production comparisons are not yet showing a strong response to the major upswing in the oil rig counts that should be translating to stronger associated gas output. Additionally, power demand has been stepped up with some help from coal to gas switching and larger than expected nuke downtime. Export activity also remains brisk.

“Nonetheless, we still question the sustainability of this recent price advance given unusually mild temperature forecasts that will be seen across the upper continent this weekend with extension out some two weeks. In view of the expected limited HDD and CDD accumulation, we feel that the surplus could see a further stretch through the rest of this month but with next week’s EIA release likely to indicate only a minor increase in the supply surplus. But while an approximate 15% supply overhang may be able to limit additional upside follow-through, it may not prove to be a match against an early start to a hot summer.”

In physical trading, forecasts of lower energy demand in key eastern markets held little encouragement for buyers of incremental supply. The New York ISO and PJM Interconnection both predicted lower energy demand Monday than Friday. The New York ISO forecast peak load Friday of 17,705 MW would fall to 17,633 MW Monday and PJM calculated peak load Friday of 31,973 MW would fall to 30,375 MW Monday.

Gas for weekend and Monday delivery on Tetco M3 shed 19 cents to $2.95 and deliveries to New York City on Transco Zone 6 skidded 27 cents to $2.93.

Marcellus points were also weak. Gas on Dominion South fell 12 cents to $2.92 and packages priced on Tennessee Zn 4 Marcellus retreated 21 cents to $2.78. Gas on Transco-Leidy Line was down 19 cents to $2.83.

Other market centers were lower across the board as well. Gas at the Algonquin Citygate shed 11 cents to $3.30 and deliveries to the Chicago Citygate were quoted a nickel lower at $3.07. Gas at the Henry Hub came in 3 cents lower at $3.20.

Packages at the NGPL Midcontinent Pool changed hands 3 cents lower at $2.90, and gas at the Kern River receipt point shed 4 cents to $2.79. Gas priced at the SoCal Border Average was quoted 6 cents lower at $2.86.

[Subscriber Notice Regarding NGI’s Market-Leading Natural Gas Price Indexes]

Gas buyers for weekend power generation across ERCOT will have not only warm temperatures to deal with but also a healthy collection of renewable generation to offset gas purchases. “Seasonable conditions will give way to spring warmth this weekend, and fair weather and a developing southerly wind with gusts in excess of 30 mph will support a quick warming trend [Friday] into the weekend,” said WSI Corp. in a Friday morning note to clients.

“Humidity levels will gradually creep up as well. Max temps will rebound into the 80s to near 90. This warm air-mass and a cold front will support the increasing chance for heavy rain and strong thunderstorms Sunday evening into early next week. Wet weather will knock temperatures down into the 70s to low 80s.

“A warm southerly wind will cause wind gen ramp-up and become strong today into the weekend. Output is forecast to peak 11-14+ GW. Mostly sunny skies will support solar gen the next two days, but clouds will increase and impede solar gen by early next week.”