CHICAGO (CBS) — Get ready for rain and rain and rain starting Wednesday evening – a pattern that might be annoying, but will help quench the drought that has plagued the area this summer.

As of 11:20 a.m., clouds were already moving in over most of the Chicago area, and scattered rain showers were spotted in the Quad Cities and Rockford. The slow-moving system will not bring rain to Chicago until around 6 or 7 p.m., as the dry air in the lowest levels of the atmosphere will have to moisten enough for the rain to make contact.

The high for the day Thursday is 84, but with a northeast wind blowing over the lake, the high for the city is 74. As of 11:20 a.m., it was already 80 at the lake, 82 at O’Hare International Airport, and 83 at Midway Airport, and 79 farther north on the lake in Waukegan.

On Wednesday night, the cool and wet pattern will continue as the low drops to 68 degrees, and on Thursday, the high climbs only to 77 as a chance for showers and storms continues.

CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist says an umbrella will be a necessary accessory for everyone on Wednesday night, Thursday and even Friday.

The high for Friday is just 73, Saturday 78, Sunday 80, Monday 82, and Tuesday 84.