Conditions

Despite a return of spring-like weather bringing cool to mild temperatures to the South, wintry conditions occasionally abetted by snowfalls proved sufficient to rally a majority of points Tuesday, although flat performances were common and most of the gains were in single digits.

With forecasts calling for below-normal temperatures in the western third of the U.S. this week, while normal and above-normal conditions are due in the more densely populated central and eastern thirds, respectively, prices dropped Friday at nearly all points. The typical weekend decline of industrial demand was an additional, albeit minor, bearish factor.

The northern and western United States can expect slightly colder-than-normal conditions this winter, though overall temperatures will be more moderate this winter than in recent years, according to forecasters at Andover, MA-based Weather Services International (WSI).

The northern and western United States can expect slightly colder-than-normal conditions this winter, though overall temperatures will be more moderate this winter than in recent years, according to forecasters at Andover, MA-based Weather Services International (WSI).

Colder-than-normal temperatures will dominate the Northeast through at least January, but current conditions indicate that the cold “will not be as extreme as it was during the last two winters,” according to Andover, MA-based Weather Services International (WSI).

Colder-than-normal temperatures will dominate the Northeast through at least January, but current conditions indicate that the cold “will not be as extreme as it was during the last two winters,” according to Andover, MA-based Weather Services International (WSI).

Range Resources Corp. has filed suit against a Pennsylvania township, alleging that the municipality violated state meetings law by not giving proper notice before making sweeping, prohibitive changes to its Marcellus Shale drilling ordinance.

Columbia Gas, which had declared Critical Days for storage Saturday through Monday, said changing operational conditions allowed it to end the Critical Day status effective with intraday nominations for Monday.

Although temperatures are rising in much of the West, they were diminishing in sections of the South, and despite chilly conditions lingering for at least another day or so in the Midwest, the region is due to see a warming trend toward the weekend. The modestly bearish weather influences, which reversed marginal support for Tuesday’s cash market, combined with the 3.1-cent fall by October futures Tuesday to drive quotes lower at a large majority of points Wednesday.