A deep freeze is expected to hit the northeastern US this weekend, sending waves of bitterly cold air across the region. AccuWeather warns that the cold blast could slow or even stop drilling and operations at natural gas production areas in the Northeast.
The forecast predicts temperatures will plummet, with AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert saying the demand for natural gas and heating will surge. This could lead to higher energy bills and potentially impact European markets, which may also experience cold weather.
According to Reppert, parts of Europe could see temperatures drop by 30-40 degrees below historical averages. If the cold wave persists, January could end up being the coldest since 2011 in the US.
AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok warns that RealFeel temperatures could plummet to -30 degrees in parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest late next week. The company expects multiple days of Arctic high-pressure areas moving southward into the Southeast, which may cause extended periods of extreme cold.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has not yet commented on AccuWeather’s advisory, but experts warn that the combination of cold weather impacts and heating demand in the US and Europe will likely drive up natural gas prices.
Source: https://www.rigzone.com/news/accuweather_says_deep_freeze_could_impact_northeast_natural_gas_production-03-jan-2025-179206-article