AccuWeather is predicting above-average warmth to keep heating costs down for consumers across the northeastern United States as they prepare financially for the approaching holiday season.

Since September, mild weather has contributed to heating cost savings, and the trend of warmer-than-normal weather is expected to continue through the end of 2017.

“Heating costs for homeowners, from the start of the heating season, Sept. 1 to date, are running only about half of what they normally are in the Northeast,” said AccuWeather founder and President Dr. Joel N. Myers.

“And, we are predicting above-normal temperatures to continue for the next couple of months, so we anticipate that heating costs will only be three-quarters of what they normally are into November, but we recommend checking AccuWeather.com and our apps to see the specific details for your location,” Myers said.

Though the higher temperatures have thus far allowed for savings on heating costs, it may change with the upcoming brief period of cooler weather, said AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

A heating degree day is used to estimate energy requirements for heating. It’s the number of degrees that a day’s temperature dips below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considered the temperature at which buildings and homes require heating.

However, the temperature is expected to rise again in early November, helping to put more money back into the pockets of most people on the East Coast.

In contrast to heating degree days, cooling degree days are used to estimate energy requirements for air conditioning or cooling and measure how high the temperature is on a given day or a period of days.

It is the number of degrees that a day’s temperature rises above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.