June 8 (Reuters) - Nordic forward power prices rose on Monday, buoyed by forecasts of dry weather in the hydropower-reliant region next week and higher European gas prices.

* The Nordic front-quarter baseload power contract NSBLQc1 was up €1.65, or 2.9%, at €59 per megawatt hour (MWh) at 1113 GMT.

* The Nordic front-year power contract NSBLYc1 gained €0.6, or 1.2%, to €50.50 per MWh.

*"Front-month natural gas prices rose significantly this morning. At the same time, weather forecasts have turned notably drier, with a high-pressure system expected to build from next week," said LSEG power analyst Ole Tom Djupskaas, adding that the hydro balance situation is worsening.

* Nordic water reserves PCAEC00 were at 21.61 terawatt hours (TWh) below normal, compared with 18.73 TWh below normal on Friday.

* "Next week will be drier and sunnier especially in the southwestern half with below-normal rain, while the northeast will remain slightly unsettled with some showers" LSEG meteorologist George Muller said.

* Benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices rose by around 5% on Monday morning after Israel hit an Iranian petrochemical plant, the first energy site inside Iran to be hit since the April 8 ceasefire.NG/EU

* Power prices for Germany's year-ahead contract TRDEBYc1, Europe's benchmark, gained €0.9, or 0.9%, to €95.25 per megawatt hour (MWh).

* Carbon front-year allowances CFI2Zc1 lost €0.2, or 0.3%, to €76.72 a ton.