Officially

The Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began June 1, will be “very active,” with 18 named storms, including 10 hurricanes, five of them intense (Category Three or greater), forming before the season ends Nov. 30, according to Colorado State University (CSU) forecasters.

The Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began this week, will be “very active,” with 18 named storms, including 10 hurricanes, five of them intense (Category Three or greater), forming before the season ends Nov. 30, according to Colorado State University (CSU) forecasters.

Although The Weather Channel’s website headline said “Spring has sprung” Thursday morning, it will not officially be true until Saturday. But the continuation of spring-like weather in most of the U.S. was able to ensure that cash market softness would endure. Of course, the previous day’s second consecutive fall of 4.4 cents by April futures was another bearish influence.

Although The Weather Channel’s website headline said “Spring has sprung” Thursday morning, it will not officially be true until Saturday. But the continuation of spring-like weather in most of the U.S. was able to ensure that cash market softness would endure. Of course, the previous day’s second consecutive fall of 4.4 cents by April futures was another bearish influence.

Monday’s 22.1-cent drop in December natural gas futures to $4.824 had traders debating whether the rally from Sept. 4 was now officially over or whether the pullback represented a mere pit stop on the way to yet higher values.

Debate in the U.S. Senate on measures to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the nation officially began Wednesday with the introduction of an 800-page bill that increases the targeted reduction for GHG to 20% by 2020 from the 17% in the version already passed by the House, eases the road to compliance for business and agriculture, and adds incentives for nuclear and natural gas-fired power.

The week was officially crowned “weak” on Friday as cash market points across the United States slumped for the sixth consecutive day of trading. News of four developing storm systems in the tropics proved no match for the declines put in by September natural gas futures on the week.

Summer has officially gotten under way, and many people are feeling it. With hot weather starting to pervade most of the U.S. except the Northeast and the upper half of the West, prices managed to rally Monday at most points in the Midcontinent and West and saw little change either up or down in the rest of the East.

Opponents of Colorado’s revamped natural gas and oil drilling rules last week took a swipe at Gov. Bill Ritter for officially signing the rules into law — even though they would have taken effect without his signature.