Uneven Warming: How Climate Change Varies Across the US

A study published in PLOS Climate on April 4, 2026, reveals that warming across the contiguous 48 United States is significantly more uneven than general temperature averages suggest. While approximately half of the states show a rise in average temperatures, the research indicates that most states are experiencing heating through specific shifts, such as hotter maximum temperatures or warmer minimums.

The research, conducted by Jesús Gonzalo of University Carlos III, Spain and María Dolores Gadea Rivas of the University of Zaragoza, Spain, highlights that these hidden shifts vary by region. The West is experiencing more extreme heat, while the North is seeing a loss of cold extremes.

Regional Variability and Public Health Implications

The findings suggest that climate change is manifesting differently depending on the geographic location, creating a patchwork of warming patterns across the country. Because local conditions shape how warming is experienced, the researchers argue that policies and adaptation strategies must be tailored to specific areas rather than applying a uniform national approach.

This regional variation is particularly critical for public health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has previously noted in its Fifth Edition of Climate Change Indicators in the United States, released on July 2, 2024, that extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires have become more common. These events harm human health, threaten livelihoods, and cause costly damage.

The EPA report specifically introduced indicators for Marine Heat Waves and a feature on heat-related workplace deaths, underscoring how rising temperatures directly impact physical safety and health outcomes for Americans.

The Need for Location-Specific Responses

The study published in PLOS Climate emphasizes that regional climate differences have not been studied in as much detail as other societal issues, such as economic inequality or public health. To address this gap, Gadea Rivas and Gonzalo developed a framework to allow for a more precise comparison of how warming unfolds in different locations.

The necessity for location-specific responses is driven by the fact that different regions face different risks. For example, the loss of cold extremes in the North and the increase in extreme heat in the West require different public health interventions and infrastructure adaptations to protect vulnerable populations.

The EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated that the climate crisis is affecting Americans with increasing intensity, noting that tracking these unprecedented changes is essential for the shared work of confronting the crisis.

Monitoring Climate Variability

To support the analysis of these trends, tools such as the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Climate at a Glance provide near real-time analysis of monthly temperature and precipitation data across the contiguous U.S. This system allows users to compare current conditions with historical records for select cities, states, and regions.

The NCEI tool has expanded to include parameters such as drought indicators and heating/cooling degree days, which are essential for understanding the burden of extreme temperatures on public health systems and energy grids.

The combination of the PLOS Climate study and the EPA’s indicators underscores a broader scientific consensus: while global warming is a worldwide phenomenon, its local impacts are diverse. This diversity necessitates a shift toward more granular, region-specific public health education and environmental policy to effectively mitigate the risks associated with extreme heat and shifting temperature norms.