Heat index readings reached 115 degrees last week with hot, muggy conditions and one thing that contributed to the humidity was the corn crop.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson explained, “Corn, especially at this time of year, is producing a lot of water, in that it’s taking up significant amounts of water from the soil and actually transpiring a portion of that out of its leaves. And when it can transpire that much water out of its leaves as well as losing some from the soil surface they call it evapotranspiration. And, through that process it doesn’t really have an affect on the temperature, but it can add moisture to the air which can actually make it feel hotter and wetter out.” Anderson said this time of year is the peak of the evapotranspiration, right before the crop reaches reproductive stages. Temperatures in Washington are expected to be cooler this week than last week with high temperatures in the mid-80’s.