0924 ET – U.S. natural gas futures are lower as the October contract debuts at the front of the curve. Late summer weather continues to support prices, with high to very high demand seen for the next two weeks, Nat Gas Weather.com says in a note. “Overall, weather patterns remain plenty hot enough the next 15 days and solidly to the bullish side,” the forecaster says. However, “the weather data likely trended too hot and is susceptible to cooler trends in the midday data and/or over the weekend.” Nymex natural gas is down 1.2% at $2.879/mm Btu.

The October contract’s introduction at the front of the curve has triggered profit-taking after recent gains. While elevated temperatures continue to drive cooling demand, forecasters caution that current models may overstate heat persistence. A potential shift toward cooler conditions in midday readings or weekend outlooks could undermine near-term bullish momentum.

Market participants are monitoring weather updates closely, as natural gas prices remain sensitive to short-term forecast shifts. The interplay between seasonal demand and evolving meteorological data will likely dictate near-term price direction in the Nymex market.