Americans Feel the Heat: How Rising Temperatures Impact Daily Life

Elisa Bracamonte has spent her entire life in Arizona. The 74-year-old retired nurse from Tucson, accustomed to extreme temperatures, now notices a greater impact on her daily activities. She experiences changes in summer plans with family, meetups with friends, road trips, and her morning routine. ‘I’ve noticed at least a 10-degree difference in the weather,’ she explained. ‘Every summer, it seems to be getting hotter and hotter.’

According to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, more Americans share Bracamonte’s experience. The poll indicates that extreme heat increasingly affects travel, electricity bills, sleep, and outdoor activities compared to July 2024. People in the West and Midwest, as well as Democrats, report a more significant impact.

Warming has endangered the globe, especially in recent years; scientists calculated that Earth’s average temperature in 2025 hovered among the three hottest on record, along with 2024 and 2023.

The U.S. has faced dangerous heat domes and unusually high temperatures. The rise in temperatures has led to thousands of heat-related deaths annually, surpassing all other weather-related causes. It also affects wildfire risk, strains infrastructure, damages agriculture, and disrupts events.

Bracamonte said, ‘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.’ Staying outside without adequate hydration can lead to illness, she added.

Increasing Electricity Costs

The survey reveals that about 8 in 10 Americans have experienced a ‘major’ or ‘minor’ effect on electricity bills due to extreme heat, an increase from 69% in July 2024. In the Midwest, nearly half feel a ‘major’ impact, up from 29% two years ago.

Rising utility costs have become a political issue, partly due to increased energy use for air conditioning. Daemien Williams, a 50-year-old from Illinois, saw his utility costs double over recent years. He tracks his bills and noticed increased energy usage, not just higher rates.

Impact on Travel and Outdoor Activities

The poll observed effects on travel and vacation plans. Around 4 in 10 Americans reported a ‘major’ or ‘minor’ impact, compared to one-quarter in 2024. Families like Bracamonte’s face challenges due to increased wildfires and flooding, limiting travel possibilities.

Extreme heat also influences outdoor activities. About 7 in 10 Americans noticed a ‘major’ or ‘minor’ impact compared to 6 in 10 in 2024. For example, Sean Conway from Massachusetts mentioned soccer practices canceled due to extreme temperatures. To Conway, a moderate independent leaning Republican, this remains a minor inconvenience.

Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist not involved in the poll, noted that heat waves had become more frequent and intense. This, combined with dry spells, affects health and finances indirectly.

Stable Belief in Climate Change

Despite increased personal impacts from extreme heat, belief in climate change remains stable. About 66% of Americans acknowledge climate change, slightly down from 73% in September 2025. The belief in climate change does not uniformly grow alongside increasing awareness of extreme heat.

Lifelong weather experiences factor into perceptions. John Hazel from Texas, aged 33, observed changes from his childhood. Summers now start earlier and last longer. Hazel, a conservative Republican, emphasizes planning around the heat during outdoor activities.

The poll of 1,165 adults was conducted between July 23-27, 2026, with a sampling error margin of 3.7 percentage points.