Natural Gas Storage: -52 Bcf
Light withdrawal pull inventories to nearly even with the five-year average.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a weekly withdrawal of 52 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in Lower 48 natural gas storage inventories for the week ending February 20, 2026 (Link). Total inventories now stand at 2,018 Bcf, 141 Bcf (7.5%) above year-ago levels and 7 Bcf (0.3%) below the 2021-2025 average for the same week.
The EIA reported the lightest storage withdrawal since December, with inventories declining by only 52 Bcf last week. The draw came in at just a fraction of historical benchmarks. The five-year average showed a deduction of 168 Bcf and inventories posted a 252-Bcf withdrawal for the corresponding week in 2025. As a result, the deficit to the five-year average was nearly wiped out, and stocks flipped back to a healthy surplus above year-ago levels.
