Chill

As a marketer had anticipated a day earlier, cash prices capped a week of solid advances Friday by recording increases throughout the market. A bit of extra chill was due in the Midwest and Rockies over the weekend, but otherwise forecasts remained about as benign for gas demand as they were earlier in the week. Industrial load’s weekend decline obviously had little impact.

Dismissing the dominant weakness in natural gas futures late last week in favor of a prevalent chill entering the eastern half of the United States this week, natural gas cash points on Monday were higher across the board, with more than a few dollar-plus gains seen in the Northeast, Midcontinent, Rockies and West.

The cash market combined support from forecasts of hot weather from the Southeast to Arizona, a touch of heating load-raising chill returning to the Northeast and Midwest, the previous Friday’s 16-cent increase by June natural gas futures and the return of industrial load from its greater-than-usual decline over a holiday weekend to record gains at all points Monday. Several western upticks were in triple digits.

Citing forecasts of “extremely cold wind chill factor temperatures,” Northern Natural Gas implemented a System Overrun Limitation for all market-area zones (ABC, D and E/F) Saturday. Allowable System Management Service was set at zero in all three zones.

Most market areas were still feeling the sting of winter chill Monday, but forecasts for moderating weather trends this week took prices lower at all points. Cash quotes also were depressed by last Friday’s 42.2-cent dive in January futures.

While this winter has been milder than normal in many areas of the country, WSI Corp. said the Northeast could experience a chill this spring. In the company’s just released seasonal forecast for March through May, the forecaster expects the period to average cooler-than-normal temperatures generally north of a boundary that extends from Spokane, WA to Dallas, TX to Washington, DC.

While this winter has been milder than normal in many areas of the country, WSI Corp. said the Northeast could experience a chill this Spring. In the company’s just released seasonal forecast for March through May, the forecaster expects the period to average cooler-than-normal temperatures generally north of a boundary that extends from Spokane, WA to Dallas, TX to Washington, DC.

Prices soared at virtually all points Monday after a frigid mass of air from Canada had invaded much of the U.S. and sent temperatures plunging, even in the previously mild South. Some Northeast citygates led the price climb with gains around a dollar or more, and most other points rose by at least half a dollar.

Prices soared at virtually all points Monday after a frigid mass of air from Canada had invaded much of the U.S. and sent temperatures plunging, even in the previously mild South. Some Northeast citygates led the price climb with gains around a dollar or more, and most other points rose by at least half a dollar.