Oliver Hall resident Stephen Krause, 19, a Kansas University freshman, leaps into a basin of cold water that collected next to the residence hall from Wednesday's heavy rain. Scattered storms are expected today.

Clouds and scattered thunderstorms will linger in Douglas County today, trailing Wednesday’s downpour.

What the area saw was a “powerful jet stream that slammed into the west coast,” said Jennifer Schack, 6News chief meteorologist. “In the plains, it turned into an upper-level low-pressure system, which has produced all the severe weather.”

As the system moved northeast Wednesday night and into this morning, one to two more inches were expected to accumulate, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday’s heavy rainfall of 1.82 inches fell upon saturated soil from about three inches of rain last weekend, which led to runoff and localized flooding.

Schack said after the first half-inch of rain mid-morning, the rest was all runoff. Schack said she expects scattered thunderstorms but no flooding today.

“We had some pretty healthy precipitation,” said Ken Harding, Topeka meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “An inch of rain in Lawrence is a big deal because of all the parking lots, cement.”

Clouds broke in the evening, but only temporarily, to reveal a vibrant double rainbow before nightfall brought more showers.

The steady rain that began mid-morning caused the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning at 1:44 p.m. for northeastern Douglas and Osage Counties and northern Franklin County, which was later downgraded to a flash flood watch that was in effect until 1 a.m. today.

City streets were not closed, but the Lawrence Street Department placed several high water signs throughout the city, said Tom Orzulak, street division manager.

Trouble spots included the intersections of 23rd and Ousdahl streets and 19th and Maine streets, and Lincoln Street in North Lawrence.

One road closure, North 1075 Road between East 1000 Road and East 1135 Road, was due to flooding on the Washington Creek Bridge.

According to an official with the Kansas Turnpike Authority, there were several accidents due to rain in the Lawrence area, but details were not available Wednesday night.

So far this month, Lawrence has had 5.86 inches of rain, more than July, August and September combined, Schack said. Last October, 2.03 inches of rain fell.

Schack said today’s high would be 63 degrees. According to the National Weather service, Friday may bring some sunshine and a high near 67.