The primary driver of natural gas prices during the winter is the weather with natural gas storage levels coming in second. Forecasters are predicting a weak La Niña or neutral phase weather pattern for Winter 2025/2026. La Niña patterns cause the Pacific jet stream to move North which leads to drought in the Southern U.S. and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. During a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the South and cooler than normal in the North. A La Niña can also lead to a more severe hurricane season.