Thomas-
The best scenario for heavy snow in NW MN would be for an area of low pressure to form in the TX/OK panhandles or western KS and then track to the NE across eastern NE and then right over, or just to the NW of the Twin Cities. This would put you on the cold side of the storm and in it's snow sector. The track would allow the storm to tap into Gulf Moisture and thus bring the largest precip amounts possible.
There are some upper air features that would be most beneficial, but will not get into them as they are not as easy to comprehend unless you are a meteorologist! But if you by chance have a low track like that and you hear a met talking about the upper air longwave trough being negatively tilted, then better have your plow truck ready!
-John
