It’s already the middle of October, which means we’ll soon have to set our clocks back an hour. For those of us who need a reminder, the popular phrase “spring forward, spring back” helps us remember that we have to set our clocks back one hour to mark the official return to Standard Time. Not only does this adjustment result in an earlier sunset, but it also gives us that coveted annual bonus: an extra hour of sleep!
When will the daylight saving time change occur?
The time change to standard time will occur on Sunday, November 3, 2024. This is the day when daylight saving time (DST) will officially end in the United States at 2:00 a.m. Clocks will be moved back by one hour. For those who rely on electronic devices such as smartphones and computers, don’t worry… most of these tools automatically do the conversion for you, since they have an integrated calendar that detects what day it is anyway.
However, if you have a grandfather clock, you should pay attention to it on Sunday morning. It’s very easy to forget about it and show up an hour early for your appointment two weeks later. Other gadgets that will need manual adjustment are microwaves, ovens, analog clocks, old car models, and wristwatches.
If you’ve already purchased a calendar for 2025 (and love planning ahead), you may want to mark the next clock change as well. Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 9, 2025, when the clock is moved forward by one hour, and ends on Sunday, November 2, when it is set back again.
Which US states and territories do not participate in daylight saving time?
While 48 states use daylight saving time (DST), some U.S. states and territories have chosen not to participate in this time-changing practice. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows individual states and territories to choose whether or not to participate in daylight saving time, resulting in some areas remaining on standard time year-round.
For example, Hawaii, which has stable daylight hours, does not need to adjust its schedule to seek more daylight in the evening. This state is geographically closer to the equator, where the length of day and night does not fluctuate much throughout the year. Since 1967, Hawaii has been on standard time year-round.
Arizona, on the other hand, deliberately decided to stay on standard time to avoid the longer daylight hours and hotter evenings. Given its blazing hot climate, it was inconvenient and downright dangerous for residents to seek out more peak heat hours. Although the state first adopted daylight saving time in 1918, Arizona discontinued it in 1968 due to public dissatisfaction. However, there is an exception: The Navajo Nation, which covers parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, still observes daylight saving time to stay in sync with neighboring states that use it. This creates a unique situation within the state, where part of Arizona observes daylight saving time, while the rest does not.
Many US regions do not observe daylight saving time either, mainly because their tropical locations near the equator result in fairly consistent sunrise and sunset times throughout the year. Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are some of the areas where people don’t bother setting their clocks.
The idea of daylight saving time is not new. Its history dates back to Benjamin Franklin, who proposed it in 1784 as a way to preserve candles. However, daylight saving time was not officially adopted until World War I, with Germany being the first country to implement it in 1916. The United States followed in 1918, and after several iterations, the current system of daylight saving time, as shown on uniforms. Time Act 1966, became law.
So be careful: after the scary Halloween holiday, remember to wake up and check all the items in your home and office, and make sure they will be there in time. If not, you’ll have to deal with bad timing for the next six months!
