NORDIC POWER-Front quarter prices rise on forecasts of drier weather

March 13 (Reuters) - Nordic front-quarter prices edged up on Thursday, helped by forecasts of drier weather and higher European energy rates.

The Nordic front-quarter baseload power contract ENOFBLQc1 were up 0.2% at 21.45 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) as of 1018 GMT.

"Precipitation amounts in the Nordic area in the coming weeks are expected below seasonal average. The hydro balance surplus is therefore set to shrink a bit," said analysts at Energi Danmark in a note.

Nordic water reserves available 15 days ahead PCAEC00 were seen at 16.06 terawatt hours (TWh) above normal, compared with 15.17 TWh on Wednesday.

"Temperatures will be near or slightly below normal at first but will rise to near or above normal values next week," said LSEG meteorologist Georg Muller in a note.

Dutch and British wholesale gas prices rose as colder weather drives up gas demand for heating, while the market closely monitors developments on a potential ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia. NG/EU

In the European carbon market, the benchmark contract CFI2Zc1 rose 0.92 euros to 70.54 euros a tonne.

German year-ahead power TRDEBYc1 rose 0.15 euros to 83.65 euros per MWh.

The Nordic power price for next-day physical delivery FXSYSAL=NPX, or system price, rose 3.17 euros to 103.82 euros per MWh.