After several days of dry, extremely hot days, the Lawrence area is finally getting some relief.

By the time most people go to work this morning, it could be raining – and it will continue off and on during the day, 6News meteorologist Matt Sayers said.

Some of the scattered showers may be heavy, and by the end of the day from one-half to an inch of rain may have fallen, Sayers said. The rain should end by tonight.

Cooler weather, however, will remain for a few days. Today’s high will be in the middle to upper 70s with low and middle 80 degree temperatures Thursday and Friday, Sayers said.

While area residents may welcome a respite from the hot weather that saw 100-degree or higher temperatures over the weekend and Monday, they apparently handled the heat well. Only two patients were treated over the weekend in the emergency room at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, officials said.

The Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center has been a popular place, drawing about 1,000 people per day over the past few days, managers there said.

But the heat took its toll on a dog, which was found dead Friday outside a house in the 1300 block of Brook Street. A veterinarian confirmed that the dog, an 8-year-old cocker spaniel mix, died from heat stroke. Officials said they thought the dog had gone about four days without water and shade.

This weekend will see a return of 90-degree weather, Sayers said, but he doesn’t expect temperatures to return to the century mark any time soon.

“We’ll be about normal,” he said. “The average temperature (for this time of year) is 91.”