Douglas County and surrounding areas are in a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Friday, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.

“Conditions are favorable for strong to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes,” said Ross Janssen, 6News meteorologist. “Thunderstorms are expected later this evening, around 7 o’clock.”

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“Be prepared for later statements and possible warnings,” Janssen said. “Thunderstorms will start popping up to our south and west in the next hour or so and they’ll move northeastward. And that’s the thunderstorms we will see.”

The watch includes 36 counties in northeast Kansas. Besides Lawrence, other cities include Emporia, Ottawa, Abilene, Junction City, Topeka, Manhattan, Clay Center, Concordia, Marysville, Hiawatha, McPherson, Leavenworth, Atchison, Salina, Kansas City and Olathe.

“It could possibly affect the Kansas Relays, but most likely, they should be dry,” Janssen said.

Relays Field events scheduled for Friday afternoon, which include competitions in pole vaulting and javelin throwing, were expected to face the windy conditions under mostly cloudy skies. Running events Friday afternoon include 400 meter races for men, women, boys and girls.

The rain chances diminish overnight, with partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies. Overnight the low will be 56.

Saturday will be pleasant for the Relays’ running events. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy early, with a high of 66.

The winds will also increase during the day to 20 to 30 mph. The chances for rain increase through the afternoon, with an 80 percent chance for rain by Saturday evening.

Overnight, the low will drop to 48, with rain continuing through Sunday morning.

The rain should end by Sunday afternoon, changing to partly cloudy skies by the end of the day. The high will be 57. Sunday night will be partly cloudy with an overnight low dropping to 42.