Oil prices rose on Monday in Asian trading as a winter storm plowed across the United States, spurring expectations of strong demand for heating oil.
The winter storm plowed toward the US East Coast after dumping as much as 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in the Midwest, grounding hundreds of airline flights and closing major highways.
By midday Sunday in the United States, snow was dwindling but still falling from Washington DC to the Dakotas in the northern plains.
"Oil prices have been driven by the weather, as what is perhaps the last winter storm of the year passes through the US Midwest toward the East Coast, driving strong demand in heating oil," said Victor Shum, energy analyst, Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.
Light, sweet crude for April delivery rose 27 cents to $61.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, midmorning in Singapore.
The contract added 19 cents Friday to settle at $61.14, its highest closing price since December 22.
