* Front-month breaks to lowest level since Feb. 2002 * Several deliveries slide to contract lows * Mild weather on tap for much of nation * Coming Up: API oil data Tuesday, EIA oil data Wednesday (Adds details, byline, quote) By Eileen Houlihan March 13 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures slid more than 2 percent early Tuesday, breaking to their lowest mark in just over 10 years, as a mild winter left inventories swollen at record levels. "Natural gas is a reflection of the current, and seemingly future, state of supply and demand. What else can possibly be said given the incredibly mild winter temperatures across most of the country, much less the exceedingly mild winter we're coming out of, that hasn't been said before," said Jay Levine, broker, energy, LLC in Portland, Maine. Front-month April natural gas futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange were at $2.22 per million British thermal units in early U.S. activity, down 4.9 cents, or just over 2 percent, after sliding to $2.204 which marked a contract low and the cheapest price for a front month since February 2002. Other months were lower as well, with the May contract down about 5 cents at $2.329, and summer months off about 5 cents each. The first five contract months also slid to fresh lows in electronic trade. In the cash market, gas bound for the NYMEX delivery point Henry Hub NG-W-HH in Louisiana was heard early near $2.15, down 2 cents from Monday's average of $2.17 and at its lowest mark since September 2009. Early Hub cash deals were done at about a 10-cent discount to the front month, little changed from deals done early Monday at about a 12-cent discount. Gas on the Transco pipeline at the New York City gate NG-NYCZ6 was heard early near $2.28, down 1 cent from Monday and also at its lowest price since September 2009. Temperatures in key gas-consuming cities New York and Chicago were seen climbing to the low to mid-70s Fahrenheit by midweek, according to the Weather Channel's weather.com. Traders said the mild weather has curbed any late-winter heating demand across both regions. STORAGE A PROBLEM FOR PRICES Last week's gas storage report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed total domestic inventories fell to 2.433 trillion cubic feet, still at record highs for this time of year, and more than 700 bcf, or 40 percent, above both last year and the five-year average level. (Storage graphic: link.reuters.com/mup44s) Early withdrawal estimates for this week's EIA report range from 47 bcf to 66 bcf versus last year's drop of 60 bcf and the five-year average decline of 79 bcf for that week. With no extreme cold on the horizon, stocks are likely to end winter at an all-time high of 2.2 tcf, well above the previous record of 2.148 tcf set in 1983. The cushion could also spell trouble for prices late in the summer stock-building season if storage caverns fill to capacity and force more supply into the market. OUTAGES, CUTS COULD HELP TIGHTEN MARKET Nuclear plant outages were running at about 19,600 megawatts, or 20 percent, on Tuesday, up from 14,700 MW out a year ago and a five-year outage rate of about 14,900 MW. Traders said the outages could add more than 1 bcf to daily gas demand. And planned output cuts by producers could trim 1 bcf per day or more from flowing supply. Relatively cheap gas has also drawn more industrial use and prompted additional utility fuel switching away from more expensive coal. But with production still running at or near all-time highs, few traders expect much upside in prices in the near term. MORE FUNDAMENTALS The National Weather Service six to 10-day outlook issued on Monday again called for above or much-above-normal readings for about the eastern two-thirds of the nation and below-normal readings only in the West. Baker Hughes drilling data last week showed the gas-directed rig count fell for a ninth straight week to a 32-month low of 670. The steady drop in gas-directed drilling has stirred talk that low prices might finally slow output. (Rig graphic: r.reuters.com/dyb62s) Analysts agree it can take months for a slowdown in drilling to translate into lower production, noting the producer shift in spending to higher-value oil and gas liquids plays still produces plenty of associated gas that partly offsets any reductions in dry gas output. A recent Bernstein report said the gas-directed rig count would have to drop to about 600 before it would be comfortable forecasting flat to falling production. Most analysts, noting it will be difficult to balance the gas market without serious production cuts, do not expect any major slowdown in gas output until late this year.

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