MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. A severe cold snap expected next week will further delay the heating season in Europe, which is already facing critically low levels of its underground gas storage facilities (UGS), Gazprom said in a statement.

"Europe entered the second calendar month of spring with critically low levels of UGS facilities and is still in net gas withdrawal mode. However, daily withdrawal volumes are consistent with those typical for the third ten-day period of February this year. The withdrawal season will likely be further delayed due to another severe cold snap next week in Central Europe, as reported by meteorologists," the statement said.

According to Gas Infrastructure Europe data as of April 1, cited by Gazprom, the level of reserves in European underground gas storage facilities fell to 27.9%, and in the Netherlands, to 4.6%.

Earlier TASS reported that the ongoing heating season in Europe has already become one of the longest since observations began in 2011. The 2025-2026 season for gas withdrawals from underground gas storage facilities in the EU has been on for 171 days. It will soon surpass the length of the autumn-winter period of 2015-2016, which lasted 172 days. The longest heating season since the start of observations is the 2020-2021 season, with a still unattainable 190 days.