Corn Sweats Are Making Michiganders More Miserable This Summer

If you're wondering why it's been so gosh darn humid this past month in Michigan, it's because the whole state is suffering from the 'corn sweats'.

You read that right; the 'corn sweats'.

What Are Corn Sweats, Exactly?

The corn sweats are a real thing, but it's not something we, as people, do when we've eaten too much corn. It's something that corn does.

Corn sweats happen when corn releases excess water vapor into the air.

And because Michigan and the Midwest at large are home to a large amount of corn, we've really been feeling that extra humidity.

And corn isn't the only crop sweating this time of year; Michigan's 2 million acres of soybeans are sweating too.

How Much Water Does Corn Release?

On average, an acre of corn gives off 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water in the evaporation process. All this humidity is going to have Michigan feeling a LOT hotter than usual, so much so that most of the state is expected to be in a heat advisory at some point this week.

Here's a nifty TikTok video that explains the corn sweats a bit more:

Over the next few days here in Lansing, we're going to see high temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s. However, it's going to feel a lot hotter than that when you factor in the humidity.

What's the Heat Index in Michigan This Week?

The heat index is a measurement of what it "feels like" to the human body, and the heat index for parts of Michigan will range from 99 to 103 degrees, going from July 23rd through the weekend.

Make sure that you stay cool and hydrated. And if you need a cool place to go in Lansing, here are cooling centers you can visit.