Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tim Post
St. Cloud, Minn.

Is corn to blame for high humidity?

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Country reading
A piece of weather equipment measures the dew point on a sticky July day near a corn field south of St. Cloud. The humidity here is higher than in the city. Some weather experts think corn causes higher humidity, and in turn more severe weather.
MPR photo/Tim Post

Their theory is that corn and other crops send water into the atmosphere, raising humidity and even causing more severe weather.

We asked MPR reporter Tim Post to investigate. He went out with Bob Weissman, a meteorologist at St. Cloud State University, to take dew point measurements around the St. Cloud area to see whether there really is a connection between corn and humidity.

Gallery
3 of 3
Meteorologist Bob Weissman
St. Cloud State University meteorologist Bob Weissman measures the dew point in downtown St. Cloud. Weissman says while most of Minnesota's humidity comes for the Gulf of Mexico, crops like corn can add to the humidity.
MPR photo/Tim Post
1 of 3
Humidity in the country
A piece of weather equipment measures the dew point on a sticky July day near a corn field south of St. Cloud. The humidity here is higher than in the city. Some weather experts think corn causes higher humidity, and in turn more severe weather.
MPR photo/Tim Post
2 of 3
Irrigating corn
A field of corn south of St. Cloud gets a good dousing of water.
MPR photo/Tim Post