09:24 AM EDT, 05/01/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Natural gas prices rose early on Thursday ahead of fresh storage data even as mild weather limits demand.

Gas for June delivery was last seen up US$0.04 to US$3.36 per million British thermal units.

The rise comes as mild weather continues to limit demand for the fuel, with the market awaiting the arrival of summer heat to boost cooling demand.

"National demand will be light the next 3-days as most of the US experiences perfect temperatures w/highs of 60s-80s besides locally cooler 50s across the Midwest. National demand will increase slightly this weekend as a cooler vs normal weather system tracks across the Great Lakes and Northeast. A very light demand pattern follows for next week as most of the US experiences perfect temperatures," NatGasWeather noted.

Later Thursday, the Energy Information Administration will release its weekly look at U.S. inventories of the fuel, with an outsized rise in stocks expected. Celsius Energy predicts a rise of 113-billion cubic feet, the largest rise in five years and 55-bcf higher than the five-year average.