(Reuters) – U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil rigs operating for the first time since November as blistering cold and snow hit most of Texas, New Mexico and other big energy producing areas.

The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, was unchanged at 397 in the week to Feb. 19, according to data on Friday from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co.

Despite rising for six months in a row, that combined count is still 393 rigs, or 50%, below this time last year. The total count, however, has soared since hitting a record low of 244 in August, according to Baker Hughes data going back to 1940.

U.S. oil rigs fell by one to 305 this week, while gas rigs rose one to 91, their highest since April 2020.

The decline in the oil rig count follows 12 weeks of gains, which was the longest streak of increases since June 2017.

A rare deep freeze since the weekend, which has killed at least 21 people and knocked out power to more than 4 million people in Texas, has shut-in oil and natural gas production. Depending on the extent of damage from the frozen shutdowns, operations could be impaired for several weeks in major shale regions like the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico.

After falling to record lows below zero in April 2020 due to coronavirus demand destruction, U.S. crude futures climbed over $60 a barrel this week, their highest since January 2020. [O/R]

Most energy firms, meanwhile, said they plan to continue cutting spending for a third year in a row in 2021 as they keep focusing on improving earnings rather than increasing output.

U.S. financial services firm Cowen & Co said the 45 independent exploration and production (E&P) companies it tracks plan to cut spending by about 4% in 2021 versus 2020. That follows capex reductions of roughly 48% in 2020 and 12% in 2019.