Raleigh, N.C. — "We've been hoping for this day," meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said at noon Wednesday, referring to the cool, rainy weather soaking the state.

"What a nice treat in August, to have high temperatures in the 70s."

The heaviest rain fell outside the Triangle through the morning. Goldsboro recorded up to 1.5 inches of rain before noon. Heavier accumulation was expected to the south and west of Raleigh throughout the afternoon. Southern parts of the state could see as much as 1 inch of rain, while the Triangle and areas north will be lucky to get half an inch.

“(It will be) a cool, wet day for us – the kind of day (when) you don’t want to be caught out without your umbrella,” Gardner described.

The trajectory of Wednesday’s system will bring rain to central and eastern North Carolina through the day. As the rain tapers off in the afternoon and shifts eastward, the Triangle will likely see temperatures rise to the 70s.

"It's just a nice, rainy day," Gardner said, "Not the thunderstorm-type of precipitation that sometimes comes down really hard and fast and runs off." Wednesday's showers are simply good, steady, much-needed rain, she concluded.

Thursday will bring partly cloudy skies and warmer weather with a slight chance of an afternoon storm. Highs will be in the mid- to upper-80s.

“The summer heat returns in full force, most likely by the beginning of next week,” Gardner said.