The Hall County area could get some much-needed rain this week.

Showers are in the forecast through Wednesday, with the greatest chance for rainfall Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.

A thunderstorm also is possible on Tuesday.

The area has been in drought for months, with the U.S. Drought Monitor showing Hall County ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought.

Most of the state is in extreme drought, stretching from Gwinnett County to the Florida line.

Conditions have eased, however, from earlier in the summer, when most of South Georgia was in extreme drought.

Coastal areas now are experiencing moderate to severe drought, and no areas of the state are in the most serious category, which is exceptional drought.

The U.S. Drought Monitor, produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center out of Lincoln, Neb., updates its report every Thursday based on data collected through 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is calling for sunny, dry conditions to return Thursday and last until Saturday.

As for high temperatures, they'll be alternating between chilly and warm throughout the week.

Expect the mercury to rise to 71 degrees by Tuesday but no higher than the mid 50s Friday and Saturday.

And overnight lows will be mild until Friday and Saturday, when temperatures drop into the 30s.