Parched lawns and gardens will get a much-needed drink as rain and significantly cooler weather moves into the Ann Arbor area Thursday. The cooler, wet weather should stick around for a couple of days, the National Weather Service says.

The forecast for Thursday calls for showers, with thunderstorms possible after 8 a.m. The high temperature will be near 76. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent, the weather service says. New rainfall amounts of between a quarter and half an inch are possible.

A cloudy and rainy day is on tap for Ann Arbor.

Photo courtesy of Angela Todd

Gardeners and farmers will welcome the rain as Washtenaw County continues to be in the grip of a widespread drought in the United States. The Ann Arbor area had received 14.85 inches of precipitation — 6.71 inches short of normal -- as of July 31, as recorded at a University of Michigan weather station on North Campus, said weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum.

After a wet and cloudy day, showers and possibly a thunderstorm are also expected overnight Thursday, with the low dropping to around 61. The chance of rain is 100 percent with new rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely again Friday with a high near 71. The chance of rain is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch are possible.

More showers are possible Friday night with a low around 57. The chance of rain drops to 60 percent.

Saturday, there’s a 50 percent chance of scattered showers. Mostly cloudy skies are expected with a high near 71.

Sunny skies will return for Sunday with a high near 77.

For weather conditions and forecasts any time, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.

Cindy Heflin is associate news director at AnnArbor.com. Contact her at cindyheflin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2572 or follow her on Twitter.