photo by: National Weather Service Topeka

The National Weather Service in Topeka forecasts light snow across central and northeast Kansas. Adam Jones, a meteorologist for the NWS, said Douglas County is expected to get around 0.5 inches of snow starting around 7 p.m.

A day after the year’s first rainfall on Thursday, Lawrence could receive a dusting of snow and wintry mix on Friday night.

The National Weather Service in Topeka is forecasting a band of precipitation will move across central and northeast Kansas later in the afternoon, and portions of Douglas County can expect wintry precipitation as the temperature cools in the evening.

Adam Jones, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told the Journal-World the band of precipitation is expected to reach Douglas County around 7 p.m., and the area is expected to see an average of about 0.5 inches of snow. The snowfall is expected to stop at around midnight.

Jones said some areas in Kansas might see more than half an inch of snow; places to the west of Topeka could get closer to an inch of snow. In those places, the snow could lead to a few slick or slushy spots on the roads, but everywhere else can expect just a light dusting, mostly on grassy surfaces.

Even if there is light accumulation, it might all melt away on Saturday, as the forecast calls for sunny weather with a high of 44 degrees.

On Thursday, Douglas County recorded its first rainfall of the new year. Jones said the average amount of rain that fell in the county was about 1.3 inches, with some areas receiving more.