Extreme Heat Impacting Americans’ Daily Lives: Insights from a New Poll

Elisa Bracamonte, a lifelong Arizona resident, is accustomed to organizing her schedule around the state’s intense summer temperatures. Recently, however, the 74-year-old retired nurse from Tucson has found that heat is increasingly affecting her social plans, travel, and daily routines. “I’ve noticed at least a 10 degree difference in the weather,” Bracamonte remarked. “Every summer, it seems to be getting hotter and hotter.” This sentiment is shared by many Americans, according to a recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The survey reveals that more U.S. adults are reporting significant effects from extreme heat on various aspects of their lives, including travel plans, electricity bills, sleep, and outdoor activities. This change is particularly noted among residents in the West and Midwest regions. Furthermore, politically, Democrats are statistically more likely than Republicans to acknowledge that extreme heat has a major influence on these areas.

Data shows Earth’s average temperature in 2025 was among the highest recorded, alongside 2024 and 2023. The U.S. has experienced perilous heat domes over recent years, posing threats such as increased wildfire risks, stress on public infrastructure, harm to agriculture, and disruption of events. Recent scorching conditions contribute to thousands of heat-related deaths annually, more than any other weather events.

Bracamonte mentioned the necessity of altering her usual morning routine due to rising temperatures. “I have to get up at 5 in the morning to walk before 6, because by 7 it’s already in the 80s… I lose a couple hours of sleep because I’m having to wake up earlier,” she noted. The heat, she said, necessitates constant hydration when outside.

Regarding electricity bills, about 80% of Americans observed either a major or minor impact from extreme heat over the past year, an increase from 69% in July 2024. In the Midwest, nearly half report a major impact on their bills, a significant climb from 29% two years ago.

As household electricity prices become a prominent issue, factors like extreme weather increase energy consumption for utilities like cooling and heating. “I feel like my utility costs probably doubled in the last three or four years,” said Daemien Williams, a bridge inspector from Cahokia Heights, Illinois. He noted that both usage and kilowatts are increasing, beyond just price hikes.

The survey also indicated impacts from extreme heat on Americans’ travel plans and family outdoor activities. About 40% say their travel plans faced major or minor heat-related interference, a rise from roughly one-quarter in 2024. Elisa Bracamonte shared, “It has affected my entire family because we usually get together a lot during the summer.” These plans face obstacles due to increased fires and flooding.

The hotter conditions also affect sports and outdoor activities. Sean Conway, a direct marketer in North Shore, Massachusetts, noted potential disruptions to his children’s soccer practice. While he sees them as minor inconveniences, he’s aware that unusual weather patterns are influencing schedules. “Sometimes, you’ve got to just be out in the bad weather,” he remarked.

According to Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist, “Brutal, life-threatening heat waves have become more frequent, more intense, and more persistent.” These factors impact health directly, as well as indirectly through financial strain.

Despite the personal effects of extreme heat, belief in climate change remains stable. About two-thirds of Americans acknowledge climate change, though this is a slight decline from 73% in September 2025. People like Williams trace their belief to dramatic weather changes like frequent flooding.

In Texas, John Hazel compared current conditions to his childhood, noting a shift toward extreme temperatures as more common. “When I was a kid, that seemed like a very rare thing when it did hit 100… And now it’s just every day,” Hazel said, describing prolonged summers.

The poll conducted was representative of the U.S. population, involving 1,165 adults with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

Alexa St. John, the reporter for Associated Press, covers climate issues and can be reached at her email provided. Further information on climate coverage by AP is available on their site.