U.S. natural gas futures opened lower this week.

US natural gas futures fell as weather forecasts turned warmer over the long weekend, lowering demand outlook, but a brief cold snap is expected next week. Eli Rubin of EBW Analytics said in a report, "Bearish caution surrounding the brief return of cold next week might delay selling. However, the possibility of price increases at the end of winter is diminishing, and another warm spring poses a risk to natural gas prices at the start of injection season, potentially pushing it below $3.00 per million British thermal units." New York Mercantile Exchange natural gas futures fell 4.4% to $3.101 per million British thermal units.