Shoulder season may be setting in across U.S. natural gas forward markets weeks ahead of schedule, with modest price changes seen across the country, according to NGI’s Forward Look. 

A quick return to business as usual following last month’s historic winter freeze combined with near-perfect temperatures to drive April forward prices up only 6.0 cents from Feb. 26-March 3.

A similar increase was seen for May forwards, while the summer (April-October) strip and next winter (November-March) posted smaller gains, Forward Look data showed.

Rather than winter weather providing any momentum for forward prices this week, the latest weather data showed only a brief bout of cold over the next couple of weeks, with models favoring chilly air over the West then moving eastward...