Besides Final Four madness, Lawrence and New Orleans will share something in common this weekend — the chance for rain.

Jayhawk fans whooping it up on Bourbon Street and their counterparts here will have to keep their eyes to the skies, says Matt Makens, 6News meteorologist.

“For us in Lawrence, before game time, the chance for rain is 20 percent. After the game through 2 a.m. or whenever the bars close, it will increase to 40 to 50 percent,” Makens said.

If you’re headed out to the watch party at Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium (see earlier story), you might take along a jacket or a blanket, he said.

“Saturday we’ll top out at 57 and we should stay dry before the game. Barbecues will be all right, but they would probably be a little bit on the cool side,” he said.

Fans who hit the road for the Final Four will face a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms Saturday night under New Orleans skies, he said.

If the Jayhawks beat Marquette and move on to the championship game, local watch parties will probably be more comfortable indoors, he said.

On Monday, the chance for rain in Lawrence will be mostly in the morning, with a high of 51 under partly cloudy skies.

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“Monday night, for us, we should be drying off by that point, but it will be fairly chilly,” he said. “Down south, they have showers and thunderstorms likely on Monday.”

Lawrence’s forecast for today calls for an occasional light shower .

“There’s a little bit of rain spitting at us this morning, but nothing organized. Today’s high will be 81 under fairly cloudy skies,” Makens said.

“Overnight tonight, there’s a 20 percent chance for thunderstorms, as winds change to the north and we’ll drop to 47 degrees,” Makens said. Friday will be mostly sunny, with northwest winds and a high of 61. Friday night’s skies will be partly cloudy with a low of 37.

“For those going to New Orleans on Friday, it will be 78 with thunderstorms possible. Friday night, thunderstorms are possible, with a low of 62,” he said.