Weekly natural gas cash prices cruised ahead as bitter cold temperatures canvassed the Lower 48 and fueled robust heating demand. Freezing temperatures also slowed production activity, adding a bullish undercurrent and helping power the spot market to a second consecutive weekly gain.

NGI’s Weekly Spot Gas National Avg. for the Nov. 14-18 period jumped $2.175 to $6.380. A week earlier the average climbed 45.0 cents.

As the latest week of trading culminated, natural gas hubs in every region reported robust gains. Houston Ship Channel rose $2.320 to $5.110, while Joliet in the Midwest climbed $2.090 to $5.915 and Niagara in the Northeast advanced $3.180 to $5.880.

Frosty air, chilling rains and snow pushed into the Upper Midwest early, then through the Great Lakes and on to...