The leaves may have only just started changing color, but as Game of Thrones fans and Minnesota residents know, winter is coming. It's inevitable that the cold and snow will be here before we'd like it to be. The question is, how bad will it get?

We lucked out last winter, with warmer weather and an early melt. This year is stacking up differently. Weather forecasts agree, we can expect lower temperatures and probably average snowfall.

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The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's forecast for December 2016 through February 2017 calls for lower than normal temperatures for the northern two-thirds of Minnesota. The southern third is more in limbo, with equal chances for above or below normal temperatures. The Farmer's Almanac agrees with the call for cold, saying the we'll see the biggest deep freezes in mid-December, most of January, and early and late in February. What does this mean for us? Keep your long underwear handy.

These sources are a bit divided in their precipitation forecasts.

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The National Weather Service expects an equal chance of above- and below-normal precipitation this winter. However, the Farmer's Almanac says snowfall will be above-normal from Minneapolis to the east, and below-normal west of Minneapolis. They say the best chances of snow will be in early to mid- and mid- to late December, mid-January, and early to mid- and late February.

You can always get your most up-to-date weather forecasts and weather-related closings announcements right here on this station. And you can Listen Live any time to stay on top of what's happening in our area.

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