Extreme heat is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience for many Americans. From rising electricity bills and disrupted travel plans to cancelled outdoor activities and lost sleep, people across the United States say soaring temperatures are increasingly affecting their everyday lives, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The survey found that more U.S. adults now report extreme heat having either a major or minor impact on their daily lives compared with July 2024. The biggest changes were reported by residents of the West and Midwest, with Democrats also more likely than Republicans to say the heat has significantly affected them.
