Despite an October snowfall, experts are predicting a warmer-than-normal winter for the State College area.

Greg DeVoir, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College, said a mild El Nino in the Pacific Ocean might affect the local weather. The event is predicted to cause above-average temperatures and precipitation.

The weather should have a positive effect on off-campus students' heating costs, but there are still things students can do to lower their bills.

"Student heating costs should be slightly below normal, but that depends on each student's individual consumption habits," DeVoir said.

Predictions are made by the Climate Prediction Center in the Washington, D.C., area, which is part of the National Weather Service.

Andrew Kleit, a professor of economics with the department of meteorology, said a cold snap could affect heating costs in other ways.

He said the problem with the supply and demand for heat is not determined by how cold temperatures get, but by unexpected temperature changes.

"I think that if things are colder than predicted, prices are likely to rise," Kleit said.

He said because heat is difficult to transport, a sudden run on heating fuel would cause prices to go up. This rise in prices would apply to users with natural gas or heating oil.

Electric heat, by contrast, would not be affected by a cold snap in the same way.

Kleit said in this area of Pennsylvania, electricity is subject to regulation, and therefore would not be subject to price fluctuation.

Despite what costs are for this year, students can do some simple things to decrease their own bills.

Making sure doors and windows are closed and opening blinds during the day to let in radiant heat from the sun can help, said Ken Sagan, education, training and development specialist with the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center.

Sagan also said humidity levels should be maintained to make an apartment or house seem warmer.

"Seventy degrees at zero humidity is not as comfortable as 70 degrees at 40 percent humidity," he said.