Understanding Corn Sweat and its Impact on the Midwest

CHICAGO – As dangerously hot weather is set to blister over Chicago this week, a Midwest-centric term “corn sweat” is making its rounds yet again.

What is Corn Sweat?

What we know:

“Corn sweat” is a layman’s term for the corn plant process known as transpiration. Like all plants, corn absorbs water through its roots, uses it to grow, and then releases the excess water as vapor to the atmosphere. With one plant or small groups, the effect on humidity is barely noticeable, if at all, but the Midwest has a different story.

The Midwest is home to millions of acres of crops, specifically, an estimated 11.1 million acres of corn in 2025. Those acres of corn are excellent at their one job – growing.

Expert Insights

What they’re saying:

“Most plants don’t transpire a significant amount of water. Corn plants are really, really effective at transpiration,” said Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford.

So effective, that, according to Taranis, a crop intelligence platform, one acre of corn can release between “3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water every day during the peak growing season.”

Multiplied by the previously mentioned 11 million acres of corn, the amount of water vapor released equates to roughly 44 billion gallons of water daily during peak growing season in the summer.

The Impact of Corn Sweat on Weather

The added humidity from the billions of water transpiration gallons can push the heat index even higher, making the weather feel significantly hotter.

Chicago is not only hit by this corn sweat, but also the warm and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico, making Chicago the sauna of the summer.

On the plus side, the mugginess of the corn sweat means the crops are growing, and the harvest should be healthy.

Source of Information

The Source: The information in this report came from Fox 32’s Kasey Chronis’s interviews with agricultural experts along with data from Taranis.

Conclusion

Corn sweat is a significant factor in the Midwest’s weather, particularly during the peak growing season. The massive amount of water vapor released by the corn plants can lead to higher humidity and heat index, making the weather feel hotter. However, it’s a sign of healthy crops and a good harvest. As the Midwest continues to experience hot weather, it’s essential to understand the role of corn sweat in shaping the region’s climate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is corn sweat?

A: Corn sweat is a layman’s term for the corn plant process known as transpiration, where corn plants release excess water as vapor into the atmosphere.

Q: How much water do corn plants release?

A: According to Taranis, one acre of corn can release between 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water every day during the peak growing season.

Q: What is the impact of corn sweat on the weather?

A: The added humidity from corn sweat can push the heat index even higher, making the weather feel significantly hotter.

Q: Is corn sweat a sign of healthy crops?

A: Yes, corn sweat is a sign of healthy crops and a good harvest.