Poll: Majority link severe winter weather to climate change

In recent years, climatic changes in the United States have become increasingly noticeable to many, with extreme weather patterns being experienced by a vast majority of the population. Matt Ries, a Tampa resident originally from Ohio, recalls the drastic shift in weather since moving to Florida just three years ago. Last summer was marked by particularly high temperatures, followed by a rapid succession of hurricanes. This was succeeded by an unexpected cold snap this past winter that plunged temperatures below freezing, even bringing snow to some parts of Florida.

Ries, who works as a project manager for an environmental organization and identifies as a conservative-leaning independent, attributes these weather extremes to the influence of climate change. “To me, it’s just kind of obvious,” he noted, citing the extreme weather patterns seen both domestically and globally. He believes human activities are expediting these changes.

A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that approximately 80% of U.S. adults have encountered some form of severe weather in recent years. Nearly half reported being personally affected by harsh cold weather or intense winter storms. Among those who have experienced severe cold, approximately three-quarters agree that climate change is at least partly to blame, reflecting an understanding that global warming can create conditions where cold Arctic air can travel further south.

The survey found that residents in the Midwest are more likely to face extreme cold, with 70% reporting such experiences in the last five years, compared to 50% in the South and Northeast, and around 33% in the West. Liane Golightly-Kissner, who resides in Delaware, Ohio, attributes more frequent extreme cold spells to climate change, recalling that these conditions were rare during her childhood.

While only a quarter of adults in the U.S. acknowledge climate change as having a major impact on their lives so far, around 40% expect it to affect them in their lifetime, potentially impacting health, air quality, and water availability. Notably, about half of adults under 30 believe climate change will significantly impact them personally in the future.

Anthony Leiserowitz from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication suggests increasing awareness of climate change impacts among Americans is due in part to media and political attention. This growing public recognition sees climate change not just as a future threat, but as an immediate issue.

In Louisiana, Rosiland Lathan’s personal experiences of hotter summers and colder winters reinforce her belief in climate change. Such shifts are mirrored by national concerns over how climate change might translate into higher property insurance rates and rising energy costs. According to the AP-NORC survey, around 60% of U.S. adults express major concern over such economic impacts.

The poll also reveals substantial support for measures to assist those living in areas prone to extreme weather, with strong backing for financial aid to rebuild after disasters and fortify properties against natural calamities. However, opinions are divided concerning restrictions on new construction in vulnerable areas, with opinions split between support, neutrality, and opposition.

Golightly-Kissner argues for tougher building standards or restrictions in disaster-prone regions, highlighting the inevitability of future extreme weather events. “These weather conditions aren’t going anywhere,” she explains, emphasizing a need for forward-thinking to safeguard lives and properties against the challenges posed by an ever-changing climate.