Weather forecasters are warning Lawrence-area residents to watch out for heavy downpours today, particularly during the evening commute.

Douglas County and Leavenworth County are on the northern edge of a flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service set to expire Thursday evening.

Radar shows a system moving from the south converging with a front from the north, expected to drop rainfall across parts of eastern Kansas and slowly move out of the area, a National Weather Service forecaster in Topeka said. Heavy rainfall has also been reported in north central Kansas this morning.

“I think we’re looking for the heavier rain to start this afternoon and go through periods off-an-on through tonight and then slowly diminishing in the afternoon on Thursday,” meteorologist Kris Craven said of the Lawrence area.

She said the system is not expected to bring as much rain in Kansas that has caused heavy flooding this week in Texas and Oklahoma. Forecasters are mostly worried about one to two inches of rain suddenly hitting certain areas and causing problems, particularly in urban areas.

The chance for rain appears to be greater south of Interstate 35 in the watch area, Craven said. According to news reports, rainy conditions in the Wichita area today contributed to several accidents during the morning commute.

“The trick to this system is going to be where the locally heavy rainfall falls,” Craven said.

Forecasters are also advising caution around smaller streams and tributaries in the watch area.