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US Natural Gas Update: Futures Rise on Strengthened Cooling, LNG Demand

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US natural gas futures prices advanced in midday trading on Monday as weather forecasts pointed to stronger cooling demand across much of the country and as LNG export facilities increased feedgas consumption.

The front-month Henry Hub natural gas futures contract and the continuous contract were both up 1.73% at $3.289 per million British thermal units.

Weather forecasts supported prices after weekend model updates indicated hotter conditions ahead. NatGasWeather.com said Monday that weather models trended 8-9 cooling degree days hotter over the weekend, with most of the increase occurring during the 7-15 day forecast period.

"The pattern remains only modestly warm over the next six days due to weather systems across the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Northeast," NatGasWeather.com said. However, the forecaster expects a significantly hotter pattern to develop from June 28 through July 4, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the interior US. The hottest conditions are expected from the Southwest into Texas.

Supply fundamentals remained relatively steady despite some volatility in output. NRG Energy said US natural gas production fluctuated between 106.9 Bcf/d and 108.1 Bcf/d last week. Production has averaged 107.5 Bcf/d so far in June 2026, up 1.0 Bcf/d from June 2025 levels.

Demand averaged 101 Bcf/d last week, according to NRG Energy. The company said variations in demand were driven primarily by power-sector consumption, with power burn ranging between 35.6 Bcf/d and 41.0 Bcf/d, while other demand sectors remained relatively stable.

Stronger LNG demand also contributed to the market's gains. The Energy Buyers Guide said LNG feedgas demand recently rebounded sharply, climbing back above 19 Bcf/d as export facilities returned to service following spring maintenance outages.

The market also continued to draw support from last week's US Energy Information Administration storage report, which showed a slightly smaller-than-expected inventory build.

US utilities injected 73 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage during the week ended June 12, below market expectations for a 75 Bcf build. The increase also slowed from the prior week's 108 Bcf injection.

The latest storage build, compared with a 97 Bcf injection during the same week a year earlier, matched the five-year average for the period. Total US gas inventories now stand about 1% below year-ago levels but remain 5.8% above the five-year average.

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