If you’re planning outside activities today, you might want to take along an umbrella.

“We’ll see sprinkles this morning, turning into showers, with a rumble of thunder this afternoon,” said Jennifer Schack, 6News meteorologist.

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Lawrence received some brief rain about 2:30 a.m. and again about 5:30 a.m., measuring 0.01 of an inch at Lawrence Municipal Airport.

By about 8:30 a.m., conditions were sticky — the temperature was 72 with a 94 percent humidity level. Schack said today’s high was expected to be 80, which is much lower than the average high of 89 for the first day of July.

The National Weather Service put the chance of rain today at 70 percent. Schack said most of the heavy rain will stay to the south, but there are some chances of isolated thunderstorms with heavy rainfall this afternoon in the Lawrence area.

Showers are expected to linger through the overnight hours and into Friday, she said. The National Weather Service is forecasting a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight, with a 50 percent chance Friday morning and Friday night.

Most of the rain is expected to be over after 1 a.m. Saturday, with decreasing clouds. There’s a 20 percent chance of showers through 11 a.m. Saturday, under partly cloudy skies. But Saturday will be dry, Schack said.

“It will feel like summer with temperatures in the 80s and dewpoints in the 60s,” she said. Saturday’s morning low temperature will be 70 with the high reaching 88 by late afternoon.

“It’s going to be hot and sticky for your Fourth of July holiday,” Schack said.

Sunday’s morning low will be 69, with the high reaching 89 by late afternoon. Schack said there was also the possibility of thunderstorms on Sunday night.

The National Weather Service forecasts a 20 percent chance of showers after 1 p.m. Sunday and a 30 percent chance Sunday night.