Survey: Many Americans Affected by Extreme Heat

A new survey in the United States shows that more adults are feeling the impacts of extreme heat on their daily lives, even as the share of people who believe in climate change has slightly dipped.

The survey, released on November 27 by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, is based on interviews with 1,165 Americans conducted in late July. Results show that 66% of respondents believe climate change is occurring, down from 73% in a September 2025 survey. About 17% said they are unsure, while 15% do not think it is happening.

In contrast, the share of Americans saying extreme heat has a “major” or “minor” impact on their daily activities rose compared with the previous year. Specifically, 30% of participants this year said heat affects their outdoor activities a “great deal,” up from 21% in July 2024. The share saying their vacation and travel plans are affected a “great deal” also increased, from 8% to 15%.

Additionally, many reported that exercise habits, sleep, and commuting are increasingly affected by rising temperatures. The shift is most pronounced among residents of the Midwest and the West Coast. On the West Coast, 35% of respondents described heat as having a “major” impact on their outdoor activities, above the national average. Democratic voters also tended to report that heat affects their plans more than Republican voters.

Climate scientists at Virginia Tech estimate that, as of May, about 60% of the U.S. land area is experiencing drought, with 20% facing severe drought. The hardest-hit areas include Colorado and the Southeast near Florida and Georgia. They also noted that La Niña earlier this year brought dry conditions to the Pacific Northwest, a region usually known for wet weather.

As the U.S. endures prolonged heat waves since early in the year, experts warn that high temperatures can raise the risk of wildfires, threaten crops, and strain public infrastructure such as power grids. Extreme heat drives people to use air conditioning more in summer and, conversely, increase heating in winter, leading to higher electricity bills.

According to the survey, about 81% of Americans said their electricity bills have been affected by extreme heat over the past year, up from 69% in July 2024. Daemien Williams, a bridge inspector, told the AP: “I feel like my utility costs have doubled over the past three or four years. I look at my bill closely, and I see the kilowatt hours and the actual usage going up, not just the rates they charge.”

Climate change, driven largely by human activities, is considered a major global threat. Scientists calculate that last year’s average global temperature made 2025 one of the three hottest years on record, following the records set in 2024 and 2023.

Excessive heat is considered one of the leading causes of weather-related illness and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 1,220 deaths per year are heat-related. That number rose in 2023, when the U.S. saw a record number of heat fatalities. An AP analysis showed that 2,300 people died that summer from heat-related conditions, the highest in 45 years of records.

Many of those interviewed said they have noticed rising temperatures over their lifetimes. John Hazel, a field investigator, said: “When I was a kid, hitting 100 degrees was rare, and everyone was surprised. Now it seems like nearly every day. Seasons used to feel more balanced. Now summers last longer, come earlier, and stay longer.”