Nat Gas Pre-Open Report: 3/2/25

Nat Gas futures dropped 8.5% this week, primarily due to a decline in heating demand and a continuation of the weather models printing below average degree days (DD) for the upcoming 15-day period. This weekends model runs were showing promise for a colder 8-15 day period, but were wiped out with Sunday’s midday models runs. The US models printed a modest 10 HDD warmer while the Euro printed 1 HDD colder. Which now put the two models in close to perfect agreement for the upcoming 15-day heating demand period, warmer! Both are predicting over 35 HDD warmer for the upcoming period. What was interesting to see was Saturday’s and early Sunday’s run show a coder shot coming in the 10-15 period. The models are beginning to see the cold pattern developing that I have been discussing for the back half of March and early April. The big news from the models the past four days have been the developing SSW event, but more importantly the effect it is beginning to have on two major Teleconnections, the NAO and the AO. I had briefly discussed these back in January, and the effect they had on the January frigid cold it helped bring to the US. I do discuss them in today’s video.
I did hold my puts (shorts) over the weekend, with crossed fingers! Seeing the models trend colder and the Teleconnection trending colder, due to the upcoming SSW event, I almost chewed my finger nails off. But thankfully the models have a hard time with the synoptic physics of the atmosphere, and until they do, I will take full advantage of others only having the vison of the numbers they print out. I think the first big support we will see is at the 3685-3700 level tonight. I do believe that NG will gap lower tonight. Will it gap to the 3685-3700 level? We will see. But I am looking for 3685-3700 by open tomorrow for the NY open. Tonight’s models will be important to see if the models pick up the longer rang pattern change influenced from the SSW event. If there is momentum through the 3685-3700 level, next up will be the 3550 level. I discuss the technical reasons why I think these number are important in the video, but believe we are closer to the models picking up the coming cold than continuing to see the warmth. I am preparing to reenter with a block on long call position once I see the models confirming the upcoming cold after the March 15th period. There is reason to believe that if the models do continue to print a warmer period that the price could fall all the way to the 3330-3350 level. I will have a watchful eye on the daily weather models for verification. For if this breaks the 3350 level, then watch out below!!!!
Storage should continue to drop, compared to the 5-year average, with the upcoming 3 EIA reports. Which should continue to be a bullish catalyst for the upcoming shoulder season. There is reason to believe that if the SSW event unfolds, and the heating season continues through the first three weeks of April, we just might have a very short shoulder season. As discussed last week, years that had a SSW event in March and April, tend to have a very warm May, which will jump us right into the Cooling season. So, with LNG continuing to export at daily records, storage continuing to drop, we just need an addition push to keep the bullish momentum going. And personally, I think we will see that later in the month of March.
Production is a bearish catalyst now, with today’s production at 106 BCF/d. But there are too many demand side factors that are increasing faster than the overall increase in production. We will continue to monitor the heating season until draw season ends. Then it will be onto storage deficits, pipeline maintenance, coal-to-gas switching, nuclear power plant maintance shutdowns, verse the upcoming rig count and field activity. But that is for another month or so. Enjoy the video. Have a great day and good fortunes!
Keep it Burning!