'Corn sweat' is a real thing, and it can make conditions feel hotter

cornfield, close up of ear of corn
Corn stalk in field Photo credit Getty Images

When it's this hot, humidity levels in agricultural areas can be significantly higher than in cities and suburban areas. Blame it on “corn sweat.”

Rebecca Delaney, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Central Illinois, said corn sweat occurs when corn and other crops, like beans, give off moisture. This results in higher humidity and higher heat-index values.

“It is as widespread as the cornfields are. It stays pretty local to the cornfield,” Delaney told WBBM Newsradio on Thursday.

The scientific term is evapotranspiration. Not surprisingly, urban areas – which have their own ways of exacerbating heat – are not impacted by this natural phenomenon.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images