If you have afternoon activities today, keep a watch on the skies — the Lawrence area is under a tornado watch until late this evening and thunderstorms are expected beginning late this afternoon. Lawrence is also under a flood watch through early Sunday morning.

The 6News weather forecast calls for severe thunderstorms beginning late this afternoon through the evening, with the possibility of flooding.

This afternoon’s high temperature is expected to reach 87 degrees, with southerly winds, 10 to 18 mph.

Strong storms are possible through the evening hours, with rain into the night.

At 2:05 p.m., the National Weather Service placed much of northeast Kansas under the tornado watch, which will extend through 11 tonight.

Area counties in the watch are Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Johnson, Shawnee and Wyandotte, according to the weather service.

Lawrence continues to remain under a flood watch this afternoon through early Sunday morning. Counties in the flood watch area include Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson and Shawnee.

“Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are expected to develop across the area this afternoon and continue through most of the night,” according to a statement from the weather service.

Much of the area in the flood watch have already received significant rain in the last two days.

“Additional rainfall late this afternoon and tonight of one-half to 1.5 inches, with locally heavier amounts, can be expected to further aggravate potential flooding problems,” the weather service reported.