After an experimental effort to warn people of dangerously cold weather in Minnesota and the Dakotas, the National Weather Service says the test run was not effective.

A red flag warning is in effect for most of central and southern Minnesota through Tuesday. The combination of dry conditions, low humidity, strong winds, and high temperatures makes wildfires more likely and means they will spread quickly where they do occur.

The Weather Service office in Grand Forks says a storm is set to form in the Colorado Rockies this weekend that could blow through parts of North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, leaving accumulating snowfall on the ground.

The National Weather Service says very dry and windy weather will create elevated to critical fire weather conditions across parts of Minnesota. The southern two-thirds of the state is under the most serious wildfire warning. Separately, frost is possible across much of the state Monday night.

A Weather Service forecaster says these unseasonably warm temperatures will likely soon give way to a cold, snowy winter reminiscent of last year.

A survey team says the storm produced winds up to 85 miles per hour, putting it in the weakest category of tornadoes. Reports that the storm blew roofs off buildings proved to be false and officials say the damage in Le Sueur County was not as bad as feared.

In the latest report on the state's revenue picture, state revenues were just over $58 million -- or 4.4. percent -- less than forecasted.