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.

Natural-gas prices soared on Monday, tallying their biggest percentage-point gain in nearly three years. Traders responded to expectations for falling temperatures in the U.S. and Europe, as well as uncertainty surrounding whether Ukraine would take steps to cut off supplies of Russian natural gas to Europe.

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.