Chill

Despite the fact that a winter chill and storm were still battering much of the Northeast, Midcontinent and Mid-Atlantic, January natural gas futures expired on a negative note Thursday as some market watchers were beginning to question whether the United States might be in for a repeat performance of the overall weather mildness recorded during the 2011-2012 winter.

FERC Thursday approved El Paso Natural Gas pipeline’s request for a waiver of $6 million in penalties incurred by its shippers during the major chill in the Southwest last February, which forced El Paso to declare an emergency on its system.

Bolstered by an eastern chill that is gripping the eastern third of the United States, natural gas futures bulls on Monday pushed the January contract to a high of $4.540. The prompt-month contract ended up finishing the regular session at $4.488, up 13.9 cents from Friday’s close.

Rising prices grew even more prominent in the market Wednesday as enough regions are starting to feel enough early-autumn chill to prompt noticeable heating load. It isn’t much yet, as overnight lows in the 40s and 50s remain the most common temperature depths, but abetted by a prior-day gain of 1.6 cents by November futures it was sufficient to drive most points higher by generally small amounts.

Other than some chill in the South, it was hard to tell where the impetus for higher numbers at most points came from Tuesday. Regardless, a large majority of the market was up as prices managed to stave off the effect of spring-like weather for at least one more day.

Other than some chill in the South, it was hard to tell where the impetus for higher numbers at most points came from Tuesday. Regardless, a large majority of the market was up as prices managed to stave off the effect of spring-like weather for at least one more day.

With fresh private and government forecasts for a return of winter chill, cash market averages on Monday for Tuesday delivery showed gains dominating much of the country with the exception of some northeastern points, which posted a number of $1-plus declines.

With fresh private and government forecasts for a return of winter chill, cash market averages on Monday for Tuesday delivery showed gains dominating much of the country with the exception of some northeastern points, which posted a number of $1-plus declines.

Faced with a significant national warm-up following three weeks of arctic chill, natural gas futures traders put pressure on prices to the downside Tuesday as forecasts on the duration of the warm-up seemed to fluctuate a bit.