Regional natural gas forwards prices rallied sharply during the Sept. 8-14 trading period, coinciding with a surge in the futures market amid apparent market speculation over impacts to power burns from a potential railroad strike, NGI’s Forward Look data show.

Also bolstered by lingering storage deficits and a bout of late-season cooling demand expected for next week, Henry Hub forwards for October delivery rallied $1.272 to $9.120/MMBtu for the period. That paced week/week gains of $1-plus at most Lower 48 locations.

A swift 83.0-cent surge for the Nymex front month contract on Wednesday evaporated as quickly as it came, as prices pulled back 79.0 cents to settle at $8.324 on Thursday. The contract fell further Friday, finishing at $7.764 after a larger-than-expected storage...