After a weeks-long dry spell that has worsened drought conditions across Louisiana, rain is finally forecast. Unfortunately, it’s expected on Halloween.

There is some chance of rain Wednesday through Friday across much of southern Louisiana as a front pushes in from the northwest.

According to the New Orleans National Weather Service, the best chances for rain are on Halloween afternoon and early evening. Baton Rouge and other areas west of Interstate 55 are expected to see the highest precipitation totals.

There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms in New Orleans on Thursday, and the storms are expected to roll through the city mainly after 1 p.m.

Forecasters don’t expect major flooding with flooding, said National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Gilmore. There will likely be a few scattered showers during the afternoon, and apart from a few lingering showers, it should largely clear after 6 or 7 p.m., Gilmore said.

“This is definitely one of those cases where it wouldn’t hurt to bring an umbrella,” he said.

Despite the bad timing, the rain is necessary. About 73% of the state is experiencing “abnormally dry” conditions, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map released Oct. 24. Of that, just over 9% of the state is believed to be in severe drought, including parts of Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes.

Although Orleans Parish is not among those in drought, New Orleans had not rained for 24 days as of Monday, Gilmore said. That’s the city’s longest streak without rain so far this year, Gilmore said, beating this summer’s 17-day dry spell that ended Aug. 14.

It’s not unusual for New Orleans to go without much rain in October, which is historically one of the driest months of the year in the city. The coming Halloween rain could be a sign that another, wetter seasonal shift is coming, Gilmore said.

“If anything,” he said, “a lot of the rain we’re going to get is the kind of rain we need.”