Within-day gas gained 0.95 pence a therm from Thursday's close at 1200 London time at 47.05 p/th, and gas for next-day delivery firmed by 1.20 p/th at 47.00 p/th.
"The gas prompt is being support by higher than expected demand, which could be due to the anticipated storage injections," a trader said. "The UK's largest storage facility, Rough, is expected to be injecting today which could support demand despite higher-than-expected temperatures."
National Grid data showed at midday the UK system was short 13 million cu m/d of gas, with forecast supply at 302 million cu m/d and demand at 315 million cu m/d -- in line with the seasonal average.
Flows of gas from Norway through the Langeled pipeline were up at 60 million cu m/d Friday from Thursday's close of 55 million cu m/d, while LNG was flowing at around 45 million cu m/d, down 15 million cu m/d.
South Hook was flowing at around 32 million cu m/d and Isle of Grain at roughly 13 million cu m/d.
Several LNG cargoes will be delivered to the UK in the next seven days -- the Al Gharrafa at Dragon LNG on Friday, Al Mafyar at South Hook on Saturday and the Al Ghuwairiya also at South Hook next Tuesday, local port data showed.
The Al Gharrafa is delivering a cargo from Trinidad and Tobago, while the Al Mafyar and Al Ghuwairiya are carrying Qatari LNG.
Sources added the Maersk Meridian tanker will also berth in the UK from the US on November 18.
Flows of gas via the UK-Belgium Interconnector were forecast at 27 million cu m/d by midday Friday compared to 17 million cu m/d the same time Thursday and 14 million cu m/d end Thursday, the website showed.
Temperatures in London are currently 2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average in a range of 7-13 degrees Celsius, and temperatures will increase above the seasonal normal by the weekend, the latest Customweather data showed.
On the curve, a trader said gains in the prompt market filtered through to the curve.
"Summer 11 initially opened softer than last night's close, but has since traded higher as a bullish prompt has lifted prices," the trader said.
"Gains in the prompt have helped to drive the curve, and there's a bit of a short squeeze," another trader said. "The European energy complex is reasonably strong today and higher European gas prices have pushed the curve up."
The front-month contract was up 0.90 p/th at 47 p/th, the front-quarter gained 0.80 p/th at 48.65 p/th and gas for delivery this summer was 0.70 p/th stronger at 46.70 p/th.
