Heavy rain and high winds swept across central Minnesota on Saturday night in a line of storms that also brought tornado warnings and watches to the state.

A special weather alert was issued for western Hennepin, central Wright, Carver and Sherburne counties until 10 p.m. The notice warned of a line of strong thunderstorms, with wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

While tornado warnings were in effect in Pope, Swift and Douglas counties until 8:15 p.m., tornado watches continue for Meeker, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright counties until 10 p.m.

The National Weather Service posted several updates on Twitter throughout the evening noting funnel clouds and tornadoes touching down west of Brooten and near Sedan, Minn., around 7:30 p.m. A trained weather spotter also reported a tornado west of Kimball, in Stearns County, around 8:35 p.m.

The most severe part of the storm track was moving to the north-northwest of the Twin Cities metro, but a wide area of Minnesota will be impacted by the storm.

The forecast also calls for unsettled weather on Sunday, with stormy conditions throughout the day, with hail and possible tornadoes in the forecast.

Severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of east-central and southeast Minnesota, including the Twin Cities area, by Sunday afternoon and into the evening, according to the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service.

The storm front is to arrive in the metro area by midday with a risk of large hail and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. With an expected high temperature of 78 degrees in the Twin Cities, that combination may create wind shears, whose spinning action can spawn tornadoes. One or two of those tornadoes may be strong, according to the forecast.

The chance of rain will be 80 percent throughout the day, although predicted totals are a half-inch or less. The chance of precipitation is to diminish to 30 percent by Sunday night, and will continue to lessen into Monday.

Cooler conditions mark the start of the week. Monday's high is forecast near 50 degrees, with winds remaining gusty.

Kim Ode • 612-673-7185