09:28 AM EST, 01/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Natural gas prices surged to the highest in more than three years early on Monday as a massive winter storm brings bitter cold to the eastern half of the United States.

Gas for February delivery was last seen up US$0.52, or 9.9%, to US$5.80 per million British thermal units, the highest since December, 2022.

The rise comes as a polar vortex brings snow and freezing rain to eastern states, with unseasonably cold temperatures expected to continue for at least a week, according to the National Weather Service, keeping heating demand for the fuel high.

"Frigid temperatures will impact much of the interior US to start the new trading week. A reinforcing frigid shot follows into the Midwest and eastern US late this week with lows of -10s to 20s (Fahrenheit) for continued very strong national demand, as shown in the image. This includes another shot of subfreezing temperatures again into Texas and the South," NatGasWeather noted.