More Americans Are Shivering Through Harsh Winters, Poll Shows

Remember that bone-chilling start to 2026 when freezing temps swept across North America? A fresh poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that about six out of ten Americans, that's around 60%, say they've dealt with severe cold or harsh winter storms in the last five years.

That's up from just half in a similar survey back in February 2025. This jump isn't random. The poll, released in mid-February 2026, comes right after January's arctic blast that hit places from Chicago to Texas hard. People in the Midwest got the worst of it, with roughly 70% reporting personal run-ins with extreme cold.

Folks in the South and Northeast aren't far behind at about half, while only a third of Westerners say the same. Experts point out that in a world getting warmer from human activities, these cold snaps happen less often, but when they do, they feel more intense because we're not as used to them anymore.

This shift affects everyday life, from power grids straining under demand to folks bundling up in ways they haven't in years. Many respondents link these events to bigger environmental changes, pushing conversations about better prep for future weather challenges.

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