AbstractA 2007 survey covering rural areas in nine US states provides data on perceived local impacts of climate change. Perceptions vary from region to region, with a pattern suggesting links to real climate—specifically to winter warming in snow country. A multivariate analysis using mixed‐effects ordered logit regression confirms a significant perception‐temperature relationship, net of individual background and ideological characteristics, and of regional variations. These findings invite more detailed research. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society