U.S. natural‑gas futures jumped on Tuesday, with the front‑month contract on the Nymex climbing 2.6% to $2.85 per million British thermal units. Traders pointed to a mixed weather outlook that lifted both cooling demand in the South and lingering heating needs in the North, creating a short‑term bullish tilt. The move follows a three‑day gain that lifted the front month from $2.70 earlier this week.

A weekend forecast from NatGasWeather.com warned that temperature swings – hotter spells in Texas and colder snaps in the Midwest – could spur additional consumption. The service’s longer‑range models project a “relatively bullish U.S. pattern” for late May and early June, driven by above‑normal cooling demand, though it cautions that forecasts this far out remain fluid. Analysts note that such volatility often spikes trading volumes.

Investors monitoring the commodity note that the price rally narrows the gap between natural‑gas and oil, potentially reshaping short‑term hedging strategies for utilities and industrial users. With the contract now hovering just under $3/MMBtu, market participants will watch upcoming temperature data for any reversal of the current upward momentum. Energy firms are already adjusting procurement contracts accordingly.