Warmer-trending forecasts saw natural gas futures ease lower early Thursday as traders awaited the latest government storage data, expected to show another unseasonably light winter withdrawal.

The April Nymex futures contract was off 2.1 cents to $2.790/MMBtu at around 8:40 a.m. ET.

Surveys show market expectations centered around a withdrawal in the mid-70s Bcf for the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) 10:30 a.m. ET storage report, which covers the week ended Feb. 24.

A Reuters poll showed withdrawal estimates ranging from 66 Bcf to 84 Bcf, with a median pull of 76 Bcf. Bloomberg’s survey found a narrower span of estimates and landed at a median draw of 74 Bcf. A Wall Street Journal survey ranged from draws of 66 Bcf to 78 Bcf and showed an average draw of 74...