Supported by sustained hotter-than-normal temperatures in the forecast, natural gas futures probed slightly higher in early trading Tuesday. The August Nymex contract was up 1.1 cents to $3.711/MMBtu at around 8:50 a.m. ET.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

The weather outlook as of early Tuesday was slightly hotter compared to expectations prior to the Fourth of July holiday, advertising potential for hotter-than-normal temperatures in the 11- to 15-day time frame to again extend into days 16 through 20, according to NatGasWeather.

Overnight trends in the major weather models were mixed, with no major changes overall, the firm said.

The models maintained “a bullish lean most of the next 15 days, aided by bouts of strong heat over the East, where highs will reach the upper 80s to mid-90s,” NatGasWeather...