Severe storms moved through parts of western and southern Minnesota on Friday night.

A tornado warning was in effect for Cottonwood County until midnight, according to the National Weather Service. A similar warning for western Renville County, north central Redwood County and east central Yellow Medicine expired at 8:30 p.m.

The agency issued a flash flood warning for the southern communities of Marshal, Lynd and Russell, which was in effect until Saturday at 12:15 a.m.

Friday morning and afternoon featured highs in the mid 70s and were mostly dry in the Twin Cities. Scattered storms were expected late Friday and into early Saturday.

A few could bring hail and gusty winds, with the metro most impacted after 6 p.m. The best chance for thunderstorms and flooding is in southern Minnesota.

Saturday will be dry for most with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. A lingering early shower is possible far south, and humidity will increase some.

Sunday will be mostly sunny and warmer with storms possible after 9 p.m., mainly west.

Monday will be muggy with hit-or-miss afternoon storms.

Hot weather and repeated chances for severe weather and localized flooding start Tuesday and possibly last until next weekend. 

Air quality alert issued for northern Minnesota this weekend

Most of northern Minnesota will be under an air quality alert for the better part of the weekend.

The alert goes into effect Saturday at 1 p.m. and expires at 9 a.m. on Monday, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said. 

Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires will affect areas such as Brainerd, Hinckley, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage and Fond du Lac, the agency said.

The air quality will be worse the farther north you go. In the Arrowhead and areas near the Canadian border, air quality levels are expected to be very unhealthy for everyone — purple on the scale used by the MPCA. Communities from the northwestern corner of the state to Duluth will see unhealthy levels (red) and from East Grand Forks to Hinckley, the air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups.