New Poll Reveals Extreme Cold's Growing Impact on American Lives
A new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that extreme cold weather is increasingly disrupting the lives of Americans across the nation. The poll, conducted in February 2026, shows that approximately 6 in 10 U.S. adults report being personally affected by severe cold weather or winter storms over the past five years. This marks a significant increase from a similar poll in February 2025, when only about half of adults reported such impacts.
Personal Stories Highlight the Harsh Reality
Chris Ferro, a 58-year-old property owner from Brooklyn, New York, shared his experience with the unusually frigid temperatures that gripped much of North America at the start of 2026. "Pipes that never froze on me for 15 years froze," Ferro explained, describing how multiple days of below-freezing temperatures in January and February prevented him from completing repairs and renovations on his residential properties in Albany. He expressed relief that none of the pipes burst, noting that this winter's bitter cold reminded him of winters from his youth, contrasting sharply with the milder conditions of recent years.
Annie Braswell, 66, from Greenville, North Carolina, reported that her utility bill doubled during the same period, describing the cold as something she hadn't experienced in four decades. "I just take life one day at a time, and I realize these are things that I can't change," Braswell said, reflecting on how she copes with extreme temperature swings, including the intense heat waves she endured the previous summer.
Widespread Disruptions and Financial Strain
The poll reveals that cold weather has upended daily life for many Americans in multiple ways over the past year:
- About 7 in 10 Americans say their electricity or gas bills have been higher than usual due to winter storms or extreme cold.
- Approximately 4 in 10 have experienced work or school cancellations because of severe winter weather.
- Roughly one-third have endured power outages, and about 3 in 10 have faced travel cancellations or delays.
These disruptions were felt unevenly across regions, with about 6 in 10 Midwesterners, half of Southerners, and 4 in 10 Northeasterners reporting work or school cancellations, compared to only 15% of adults in the West.
Climate Change and Public Perception
Despite scientific evidence showing that abnormally cold winters are becoming less frequent in North America due to human-induced climate change, the poll indicates that Americans are experiencing cold spells more intensely when they do occur. Experts attribute this to the reduced familiarity with prolonged cold, particularly among younger generations.
The survey also highlights a partisan divide in how people interpret these weather events. Among those who experienced severe weather in recent years, about two-thirds believe climate change was a cause. However, there is a stark contrast between political groups:
- About 8 in 10 Democrats who experienced extreme weather events attribute them to climate change.
- Only about 4 in 10 Republicans hold the same view, with conservative Republicans being the least likely to make the connection.
Joseph Bird, a 21-year-old college student in Provo, Utah, offered a nuanced perspective: "I think climate change is a natural thing that happens ... to some extent it's sped up by some things," such as industrial pollutants. "I think it increases the frequency of extreme weather is how I'd see it."
Broader Context and Scientific Insights
The poll findings come against a backdrop of rising electricity prices in the U.S., with nearly 4 in 10 adults reporting that utility costs are a major source of stress, according to an October 2025 AP-NORC survey. Climate activist Bill McKibben has warned that these rising prices could have significant political implications.
Scientifically, extreme cold outbreaks in North America are linked to disruptions in the Arctic polar vortex, which are occurring more frequently due to rapidly warming temperatures and shrinking sea ice in the Arctic. This phenomenon allows cold air to infiltrate southern regions, creating the severe winter conditions reported in the poll.
Overall, the vast majority of U.S. adults—80%—have experienced some form of severe weather event in the past five years. Extreme heat and cold are the most commonly reported, surpassing other events like droughts, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes. While there are no meaningful partisan differences in experiencing extreme weather, the interpretation of its causes remains deeply divided along political lines.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,156 adults was conducted from February 5 to 8, 2026, using a representative sample from NORC's AmeriSpeak Panel, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
