Declining March heating demand expectations inspired coast-to-coast discounts for regional natural gas forwards during the March 2-8 trading period, NGI’s Forward Look data show.

LNG important hubs regional outlooks

April fixed prices at benchmark Henry Hub fell 27.1 cents to end the period at $2.548/MMBtu, and week/week fixed price discounts of around 20-30 cents were the norm for much of the Lower 48.

The discounts occurred as the latest forecasts served up a notably less bullish outlook for March cold compared to week-earlier expectations.

The latest midday run of the Global Forecast System model maintained above-normal heating degree totals throughout the 15-day projection period, enough to drive slightly stronger than normal demand nationally, according to NatGasWeather.

“However, the pattern isn’t...