U.S. natural gas prices hovered around $2.80 per MMBtu as traders weighed hotter weather forecasts and stronger LNG demand against abundant supply. Significantly warmer conditions across the central and southern United States could lift electricity use and gas burn by power generators, while flows to the nine major U.S. LNG export plants were recently on track for a one-month high of 17.9 bcfd as some Gulf Coast facilities appeared to finish seasonal maintenance. Gains remain constrained because Lower 48 output averaged a record 111.2 bcfd in August, additional West Texas pipeline supply is coming online, and storage is expected to remain 6.6% above the five-year average for the week ending August 7.