Winter is coming and NOAA has updated its outlook for Minnesota

Based on the latest intel from the National Weather Service, the best place to be for above normal snowfall in the United States this winter might be Wisconsin and Michigan, though don't count Minnesota completely out of the snowy picture.

On Thursday, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center updated its long-range forecasts and it suggests snowfall in most of Minnesota November-January is "leaning" towards above normal amounts.

From 1981-2010, a 30-year period considered the modern era, the Twin Cities has averaged 9.3 inches of snow in November, 11.5 inches in December and 12.1 inches in January. If NOAA is leaning towards a chance for more than the historical averages, it could be pretty snowy first half of winter.

In the long-range peak at December-January-February, NOAA has a similar suggestion for slightly above normal precipitation for most of Minnesota, especially across the Arrowhead and into Wisconsin.

What about temperatures? NOAA is going with equal chances for above or below normal temps November through January, though there are signals for colder air in the Northern Plains that could creep into Minnesota.

Related: La Niña is coming. What does it mean for Minnesota's winter?

As Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard recently noted, most models and official forecasts agree that we’re headed into a La Niña phase pretty quickly this fall.

La Niña winters tend to favor slightly better odds of colder than normal and snowier than normal winter conditions for Minnesota, especially northwest Minnesota into the Dakotas.

"I would plan on a pretty normal winter this year," Sundgaard said.

Related: The Farmers' Almanac unveils Minnesota's 2024-25 winter outlook