Extreme humidity and a heat dome are affecting at least 30 states, pushing temperatures over 100 degrees. Corn sweat, resulting from peak corn growth in regions like the Corn Belt, exacerbates the heat by releasing moisture that gets trapped. Cities under heat watches include Kansas City, Des Moines, and Chicago, with air becoming thick and damp at night. The heat index in some areas is expected to reach up to 115 degrees, affecting over 200 million people across 37 states.
As corn reaches its peak growth phase across the Corn Belt, fields have begun acting like steam machines, fueling dangerous heat that could last through the weekend.
The heat dome is like a hot air bubble covering an area and trapping heat like a lid on a pot, keeping cooler air and rainstorms out.
Justin Glisan, an Iowa State University climatologist, said: 'The phenomenon is thick and oppressive, particularly if there is no wind, like being fully clothed in a sauna or steam room.'
More than 200 million people across 37 states will experience the triple-digit heat wave by Friday.
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