Key facts
- A new AP-NORC poll indicates extreme heat is having a greater impact on Americans' daily lives, including travel, electricity bills, and sleep.
- Approximately 80% of Americans report that extreme heat has affected their electricity bills, a rise from previous surveys.
- About 40% of Americans say extreme heat has impacted their travel or vacation plans, up from 25% in 2024.
- Seven in 10 Americans report that extreme heat affects their family's outdoor activities.
- Despite increased personal impact, belief in climate change has slightly declined, with 66% of Americans believing it is occurring.
Extreme heat is increasingly shaping the daily lives of Americans, affecting everything from travel plans and electricity bills to sleep and outdoor activities, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey indicates a notable rise in the number of U.S. adults who feel that extreme heat has had a significant impact on various aspects of their lives compared to previous years.
The poll highlights that individuals in the West and Midwest regions, as well as Democrats, are more likely to report substantial effects from extreme heat. This comes as global temperatures continue to rise, with recent years ranking among the hottest on record, and the U.S. experiencing prolonged periods of dangerous heat.
Electricity bills are a major concern, with about 8 in 10 Americans reporting a "major" or "minor" impact from extreme heat, an increase from 69% in July 2024. Residents in the Midwest, in particular, have seen a significant jump in reported major impacts on their utility costs. Daemien Williams, an Illinois resident, noted that his household electricity usage and costs have nearly doubled in the past few years.
Travel and vacation plans are also being affected, with roughly 4 in 10 Americans reporting an impact, up from about a quarter in 2024. Family gatherings and road trips are being curtailed due to factors like increased wildfire risk and flooding, which are exacerbated by extreme weather. Similarly, about 7 in 10 Americans say extreme heat impacts their family's outdoor activities, leading to potential postponements or cancellations of events like children's soccer practice.
Despite the growing personal experience of extreme heat's consequences, the poll suggests that belief in climate change has remained largely stable, with 66% of Americans believing it is happening. Some individuals, like Illinois resident Daemien Williams, attribute their belief in climate change to observed weather shifts such as increased flooding.