It’s October in the US Midwest, typically a time when people start digging out sweaters and cranking up their thermostats. But a late blast of warm weather across much of the heartland is bringing summer-like temperatures and delaying the transition into what’s known as “heating season” in the natural gas market.

This week, temperatures are set to rise as much as 15F (8C) degrees or more above normal throughout the Great Plains and Midwest before broadening out into the Northeast and US South. Chicago is set to hit 86F Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service said. St. Louis is forecast to reach 90F Thursday, and Minneapolis will reach that mark by Saturday.

There are 37 potential daily highs that could be tied or broken through next week, according to the US Weather Prediction

See Full Page