2:14 a.m. update

There’s no break from the weather here in Lawrence. Rain is currently pelting the area, befitting of the flash flood watch we’re currently under until later this morning. Westar Energy had restored nearly all the power to customers in Douglas County before this line of storms started moving through.

It was then that the number jumped once again. There are currently about 700 customers reporting outages in the county, with most concentrated near 23rd street east of Iowa.

We’re just about out of the tail end of a storm system that had produced hail and damaging winds in counties to our north.

1:27 a.m. update

A line of strong thunderstorms headed this direction has led the NWS to issue a special weather statement. The statement warns of strong winds and small hail possibilities in the next 20 minutes for portions of northern Douglas County.

There are currently no severe weather warnings in the county and none are anticipated.

10:12 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has placed Douglas County and surrounding counties under a flash flood watch through Saturday morning.

The watch calls for several rounds of thunderstorms to pass through the area, dumping large amounts of rain across the county. One to two inches of rain are expected, which will increase runoff rates and the potential for flash floods.

A watch means conditions are favorable for the floods, but the event is not imminent.