Heat Wave Fuels US Natural Gas Price Spike

US natural gas futures rose on August 14, 2026, as forecasts indicated late-summer heat in the coming weeks, particularly in the South. This shift is expected to drive up demand for gas-fired power as consumers crank up their air-conditioning.

The increase in forecasted heat led to higher LNG flows to liquefied natural gas export terminals on the US Gulf Coast, leaving less supply within the domestic market.

Eli Rubin, senior energy analyst at EBW Analytics Group, noted that gains were likely limited by rising production across Texas, the Northeast, and the Rocky Mountains.