Boston and other parts of New England, including Cape Cod, are experiencing near-drought conditions even as much-needed rain arrives in the region, hopefully ending a monthlong dry spell that has left plant beds and lawns parched and soil moisture levels waning.

Bring a pattern change from sunny, warm and dry to cloudier, cooler and wet at times. Light rain and drizzle move in tonight with off and on rounds of rain coming i

The dry spell in Boston and Eastern Massachusetts is mainly due to a persistent “high-pressure system” — think clear skies and sunny weather — as opposed to “low-pressure systems” which bring heavy clouds and rainfall, according to Kyle Pederson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

Friday marks the 23rd straight day without any measurable rain in Boston. It’s the city's longest dry stretch since 1999, according to the National Weather Service.