All Hopes Hang On Don

You know things are bad when everyone is desperate to get hit by a Tropical Storm. But that is precisely the case with Tropical Storm Don, which looks like it might direct much-needed rain to Texas and northern Mexico, without also being so destructive as to make people wish they were dead. I'm hoping it juices up the Southwestern monsoon, which seems to need some help right now:

It's not often that news of a tropical storm is welcomed.

But if Tropical Storm Don maintains its current path, the expected heavy rainfall may prove to be a silver lining for the most drought-plagued area of the United States.

"Some parts of Texas are more than 15 inches below average (for rainfall). This storm will likely not be a drought-buster, but could at least put a dent in and around where the storm makes landfall," CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said Thursday. If Don "does not intensify into a hurricane, this is likely a good thing."

Any rain would be a welcome relief for many Texas farmers, who are suffering from the third worst drought in recorded history, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

...Despite the drawbacks for the cotton industry, Staples said there's no denying the state desperately needs the rain.

"Unfortunately, no part of Texas has escaped the damage of this drought," he said. "We welcome Tropical Storm Don as much as we're looking forward to Friday night football."

Don could bring benefits beyond the rain itself. "It will also cool the temps down for a day or two as far north as lower Oklahoma," HLN meteorologist Bob Van Dillen said. "We'll see how strong he gets and what the weather will be like for the western Gulf over the next few days."

Blogger Jerry Wofford on the Tulsa World website referred to Don on Thursday as "our newest friend that was just born Wednesday near the Yucatan Peninsula."