Scattered thunderstorms are possible through Saturday morning but, for now, no severe weather is expected in the Lawrence area this week, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka.

Although potential exists for scattered rain, gusty wind and even heavy rain in isolated areas, Chad Omitt, a meteorologist with the NWS, said he wasn’t expecting anything remotely like the EF-4 tornado that left more than 30 miles of damage in Douglas and Leavenworth counties on May 28.

“It’s not the same weather pattern we had last week. At least we don’t see it at this point,” Omitt said. “This pattern favors late afternoon and overnight scattered showers and thunderstorms — but, at this point, nothing quite like last Tuesday.”

While the area doesn’t need the additional rain, Omitt said, “that’s what we are dealing with through the end of the week, maybe through Saturday.”

There is the potential for several inches of rain in spots, but it was too early Monday to say where and how much. Farther south of Lawrence, potential exists for severe weather as another system moves up through the desert Southwest through parts of Oklahoma.

By midmorning Monday, the Kansas River at Lawrence was under minor flooding stage at 17.73 feet. The forecast was for a very gradual fall, which could change with heavy rainfall.