A heat dome and "corn sweat" bring dangerous temperatures to Indiana
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A heat dome — plus the "corn sweat" phenomenon — is bringing dangerous levels of heat and humidity to Indiana on Thursday.
Why it matters: With heat index values as high as 107 in the Indianapolis area, the National Weather Service is advising Hoosiers to stay out of the sun and check up on loved ones as the threat of severe heat illness looms.
Driving the news: The main driver is hot, moist air being drawn up from the Atlantic and trapped by a high-pressure ridge.
- Also contributing in some places: "Corn sweat," wherein vast amounts of growing corn and other produce give off moisture through evapotranspiration, further increasing humidity levels in and around agricultural zones.
What they're saying: "This is the time of the year when humidity contributions from corn sweat are highest — around the time of tasseling and pollination, when the flower emerges from the corn stalk," Iowa state climatologist Justin Glisan told the Washington Post.
Threat level: Long-duration heat waves can be serious events with warm evenings offering less of a reprieve and extreme heat having a cumulative effect on our health.
- Extreme heat is one of the most deadly weather events in the U.S., and research has shown that human-driven climate change is making such events both more intense and more frequent.
- High humidity is especially dangerous, disrupting our bodies' ability to regulate temperatures.
What they're saying: "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the NWS Indianapolis office advises.
- "Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke."