In the mid to late summer as the corn is maturing, stalks want to stay cool like we do," said Grunzke. "They draw moisture out from the roots and sweat it out. As the corn sweats out, it evaporates in the air and increases moisture content in the air."

A climatologist from Iowa State told CBS News it's a process that can add up to 10 degrees to the "feels-like" temp. The map shows the United States Corn Belt, a region historically dominating the crops' production, which our state is a part of.

((As for what the corn belt is, there is a map. It's centered on Iowa but extends north the southern fifth or sixth of Minnesota - right up to the latitude of Minneapolis. Almost all of Missouri and Illinois and about 2/3 of Nebraska and 1/3 of Kansas is included. And about 1/4 of Wisconsin -Progree))

The entire zone is experiencing extreme heat this week, when you add the humidity from corn sweat it takes those feels like temperatures to dangerous levels.

According to Minnesota Corn Growers Association, roughly 16% of the state's total land area was planted with the crop in 2024. Minnesota is the fourth-largest exporter of corn in the United States.

Evapotranspiration ((corn-sweating -P)) happens every summer. The NWS says it ends once corn stops maturing.