Rare rain hits Washington ahead of 'intense and widespread heat' across the west

Washingtonians woke up to something quite rare Monday morning — rain. Sure, rainfall isn't exactly uncommon in the Northwest; however, rain on July 29 is very notable.

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According to the National Weather Service, measurable rainfall has occurred less frequently on July 29 than on any other day of the year (since records began in 1945) — only 5% of the time. The grand total rainfall for this day in Seattle has been .31 inches over the past 79 years.

While the Monday rain may be a welcome break, the region continues to experience drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 47% of the Northwest is experiencing drought conditions. In April, a drought emergency was declared for all of Washington state, largely due to low snowpack in the mountains.

The rain also came ahead of "intense and widespread heat" across the western United States. The National Weather Service's prediction center is warning of excessive heat Aug. 2 to 4, which will stretch into the following week. Temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal are expected in some areas. While Western Washington is slated for "minor" or "moderate" heat over the weekend, Eastern Washington will be hit much harder.