Energy traders are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Jose as it still appears likely to move near the East Coast. Recent model guidance has shifted back a bit west, putting the Northeast more in the National Hurricane Center's cone of uncertainty.

In a research note yesterday we explained that a more western track could be more bearish for natural gas as cooling demand could be limited next week more than expected, but any influence is quite minor overall. Still, chances that someone along the East Coast sees tropical storm force winds are slowly increasing.

Undoubtedly many will be keeping an eye on the system over the weekend, especially as it still looks likely to re-develop into a hurricane (image courtesy of Tropical Tidbits).

Yet that is certainly not the only thing those trading in the natural gas market are watching. Many are continuing to look for the first sign of heating demand arriving on longer-range weather models, something we have been updating frequently. Others are looking for signs of market tightness that would be demonstrated further on along the natural gas strip; a more supportive strip could break prices above the resistance level they have struggled to move above thus far. The recent reversal lower has many positioning a bit more bearishly into the weekend.

To help traders keep an eye further along the natural gas curve, we have updated our Morning Update to include a screener of the front 18 months of natural gas contracts.