Desert Southwest and Southern California natural gas prices soared on Friday as temperatures in Phoenix approached 115 degrees. The suffocating heat dome currently cooking the Southwest was expected to move eastward over the coming days. NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. High heat and low wind in ERCOT typically translates to strong output from gas-fired power plants, helping explain why South Central natural gas inventories currently sit at a 4.7% year/year deficit. He added that, “In our view, one of the most supportive datapoints for NYMEX natural gas futures is the 55 Bcf year-over-year deficit in the South Central.”