June 18, 2024--Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--While a major heat wave settles across inland North America, mariners in the Gulf of Mexico need to be alert for gale-force winds and rough seas, forecasters said.

The North American energy sector could be facing its first major test since winter 2023-24. More than 70% of the United States saw sub-freezing temperatures in January, causing a surge in natural gas demand and calls for energy conservation.