Forecasts for hot weather extending beyond Labor Day helped lift U.S. natural gas futures as the market awaited the weekly inventory report from the EIA due at 10:30 a.m. ET. The anticipated demand from prolonged warm temperatures supported prices ahead of the storage data release. Traders positioned for potential drawdowns in inventories amid cooling demand concerns.

Market participants closely monitored the EIA report for signs of supply tightening. The outlook for continued heat through early September fueled bullish sentiment in the natural gas complex.