EIA Natural Gas Storage Report: This Week's Data
Commercial analysis of the latest EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. Published every Thursday at 10:30 AM ET. This page is always current.
For the week ending February 20, 2026, the EIA reported a net withdrawal of 52 Bcf from natural gas storage — exceeding analyst expectations of 36 Bcf. Total working gas in storage stands at 2,018 Bcf, which is 0.3% below the five-year average. Year-over-year, inventories are 141 Bcf (7.5%) higher than the same week in 2025.
What This Means: Commercial Buyer Analysis
The 52 Bcf withdrawal significantly exceeded the 36 Bcf analyst consensus, signaling structurally higher power burn from gas-fired generation and sustained LNG export demand. Total working gas in storage at 2,018 Bcf is now 7 Bcf (0.3%) below the five-year historical average — the first below-average reading of the 2025/2026 heating season. Despite the bullish weekly print, Henry Hub prompt-month prices remain historically depressed at $2.83/MMBtu. The market is pricing in the end of winter, but this structural tightening suggests low prices will not easily extend into deferred forward curves (2027-2029). Commercial buyers should target prompt-month softness while it lasts.
Connected Intelligence
For a detailed breakdown of this report, see our full EIA Storage Analysis (Feb 2026). For context on the price crash that followed, read Henry Hub Collapse: $7.72 → $2.83. Track live rates on our Natural Gas Hub.
About This Report
The EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report is published every Thursday at 10:30 AM ET by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It measures the net change in underground natural gas inventories during the prior week.
This is the most closely watched weekly fundamental data point in energy markets. A larger-than-expected withdrawal is considered bullish for gas (and electricity) prices, while a smaller draw is bearish. Because natural gas sets the marginal cost of electricity in most U.S. wholesale power markets — including PJM, ERCOT, NYISO, ISO-NE, MISO, CAISO, and SPP — the storage report has direct implications for commercial electricity pricing.
Recent Weekly Reports
| Week Ending | Draw (Bcf) | Total (Bcf) | vs 5-Yr Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2026 | -52 | 2,018 | -0.3% | LATEST |
| February 13, 2026 | -144 | 2,070 | -123 Bcf (-5.6%) | Analysis → |
| January 30, 2026 | -360 | 2,214 | +29 Bcf (+1.3%) |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Updated weekly.
Act on the Data
Weekly storage moves directly impact commercial gas and electricity pricing. Use our tools to translate the data into procurement strategy.