After Soggy June, Get Ready For ‘Corn Sweat’ Summer As Heat Wave Approaches

Chicago and Illinois are experiencing increased humidity due to 'corn sweat,' a phenomenon where cornfields release 4,000 gallons of water daily through evapotranspiration. This process raises heat indices near 100°F as temperatures rise into the 90s, with Illinois corn crops releasing 35 billion gallons of water daily. Heavy June rainfall in northern Illinois, combined with a heat wave, has intensified the effect early this summer.