A storm will deliver several days of much-needed rain to the drought-stricken western United States late this week. However, rain could be heavy enough to cause flash flooding and travel delays.

Rain is desperately needed across most of the Southwest and parts of the Northwest. According to an April 26 report by the U.S. Drought Monitor, an estimated 45 million people are being affected by drought in the West. Over 50 percent of California is in extreme or exceptional drought.