A wave of predictions that a polar vortex will make this January the coldest in years sent natural gas prices up this week, and experts say it could test supplies in the US and Europe.

The combination of frigid forecasts and supply risks has ignited a buying frenzy among traders. February futures surged as much as 20% earlier in Monday’s session before settling at a 15% gain. Year-to-date, natural gas prices are up 58%, including a 9% increase in just the past week.

With 2024 fading into everyone’s rearview mirror, we reached out to an expert for the expected trends for gas prices in 2025. On the whole, West Virginia’s gas prices have been lower than the national average for several years.

In a holiday gift to motorists, 2024 ended with the lowest gasoline prices of the year. According to industry forecasts, that trend could continue in 2025,

Gas prices are expected to drop in 2025 for the third straight year. Gas Buddy expects the national average for regular gas to fall to $3.22 per gallon in 2025. That’s about 10 cents less than in 2024 and would be the lowest annual average since 2021.