Thunderstorms bringing heavy rains are expected for Lawrence this afternoon and tonight, leading the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch for the area.

The weather service’s forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms to form across the Lawrence area through late afternoon and into the evening.

The flood watch, which begins at 7 p.m. and extends through Sunday morning, is for portions of east-central Kansas, including Douglas, Shawnee, Franklin and Jefferson counties.

The weather service says repeat thunderstorms that will produce heavy rain are expected over the watch area, bringing as much as two to three inches in some areas.

“Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding,” the weather service said in its flood watch statement. “Quickly move to higher ground. Do not stay in areas subject to flooding when water begins rising.”