(The Hill) - Nearly 40 percent of Americans experienced extreme weather last year  — and those who did were more likely to be concerned about climate change, according to new polling. Gallup found that 37 percent of Americans experienced extreme weather over the past two years, up from 33 perc ent in prior surveys.  The polling was conducted in early to mid-March, following devastating wildfires in California. The number of people in the West who said they had experienced extreme weather grew significantly to 43 percent from the prior survey in 2023, when just 30 percent of those in the U.S. West said they had experienced extreme conditions. Dominick Gucciardo walks to his home in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 3 in Pensacola, N.C. Associated Press/Mike Stewart People who had experienced extreme weather were also significantly more likely to say they were concerned about climate change, which exacerbates extreme weather.  Of those who reported experiencing extreme weather, 51 percent said they worry “a great deal” about climate change while only 34 percent of those who did not experience extreme weather said the same. Gallup said that this trend held true for both Democrats and Republicans but declined to release the percentages, saying it would release that data at a later date.  The results have a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.  ...read more read less