Forecasts flashing cooler weather arriving into the second half of March failed to impress natural gas futures traders early Monday as prices eased lower.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

The April Nymex contract was down 2.4 cents to $1.781/MMBtu as of 8:47 a.m. ET.

A number of near-term factors threatened downward pressure on prices as of early Monday, EBW Analytics Group analyst Eli Rubin told clients.

The analyst highlighted “extreme warmth this week” that could “again challenge physical pricing in the coming days.”

According to NGI’s Daily Gas Price Index, Henry Hub cash prices on Friday traded well shy of the Nymex front month, averaging just $1.540.

Rubin also noted daily estimates showing supply volumes increasing off recent lows, along with weakness in LNG feed gas demand. These...