Nymex natural gas, heating oil and crude futures fell on Monday in Asia following forecasts that predicted a chill in the United States would loosen its grip later this week.
However, brokers said temperatures would remain below normal, which would limit the downside potential of the market.
Front-month Nymex natural gas for February delivery was down 6.59 percent at $5.660 per million British thermal units, weighing on crude and heating oil.
Front-month Nymex crude for March delivery was 35 cents lower at $34.59 a barrel, while Nymex February heating oil futures were off 1.75 cents to $1.0075 a gallon.
"Temperatures, especially in the US Northeast, are returning to normal levels," said Shun Maruyama, an oil analyst at UFJ Institute Ltd.
Temperatures in the US Northeast next on Monday will increase to four-to-eight degrees Fahrenheit below normal, against current temperatures of eight-to-15 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, private weather forecaster Meteorlogix said on Monday.
"Although they revised the forecasts just a little, it's still cold and we'll see decent support at the psychological $34 level and $33.75, the low of January 22," said a broker in New York, who expected to see further downside potential in the market.
London's IPE Brent crude futures for March were down 31 cents at $30.65, while February gas oil futures were $1.00 weaker at $281.00 a tonne.
Adding further downward pressure on the market, Opec giant Saudi Arabia signalled late last week a softer stance on the need for high oil prices to counter the decline in the value of the dollar.
Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told delegates at the World Economic Forum that the kingdom would continue to aim for a central $25 target for a reference basket of cartel crudes.
"I think a price of $25 a barrel for the Opec basket is the right price," Naimi said. Opec's price index was at $30.71 a barrel on Thursday, above it's target range of $22-$28.
His comments came ahead of Opec's meeting in Algiers, scheduled for February 10, to consider production policy.
Late last year, Naimi had said higher oil prices were justified because of the slump in the dollar, the currency used in oil trading.
TOCOM benchmark crude futures for June delivery were down 310 yen lower at 18,770 yen per kiloliters (yen/kl).
August TOCOM gasoline was off 300 yen at 28,900 yen/kl and August kerosene was 390 yen lower at 26,990 yen/kl.
August gas oil futures were 310 yen weaker at 26,830 yen/kl. The Singapore Middle East crude market was untraded.
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