Why Is the USA Natural Gas Price Rising Today?

Rigzone • January 19, 2026 • business

Key Points:

U.S. natural gas prices rose to around $3.5 per MMBtu from about $3.1 before the weekend, driven primarily by colder short-term weather forecasts increasing heating demand and steady LNG demand tightening near-term supply.
The price increase is considered tactical rather than structural, as U.S. production remains strong, storage levels are comfortable, and there are no supply disruptions, with the market recovering from a recent sell-off.
Analysts attribute the rise to a combination of colder weather, increased domestic consumption for heating and power generation, and potential additional spot LNG purchases in Asia due to the cold snap.
The polar vortex, bringing sustained and unusually southern cold temperatures, is a key factor causing upward pressure on front-end