Tropical storm Isaac is bearing down on the Gulf Coast and is expected to make landfall tonight. While the storm hasn’t intensified as originally forecast, it will still likely make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing a significant storm surge to the area as well as all the other risks attendant to a weak hurricane.

Here in the midwest, it is forecast to have a different, beneficial effect. We have been suffering through a long drought, which has caused significant problems for farming and other water-dependent interests. Isaac’s projected path after landfall takes it generally up into the Midwest.

This may have the beneficial effect of bringing much-needed rain to drought-stricken areas. The HPC’s QPF shows a lot of rain in the Mississippi Valley over the next few days.

When compared to the drought map shown below, for Illinois, the rain should help alleviate this drought for Illinois farmers downstate.