The end of daylight saving time is approaching, with clocks set to turn back this weekend. The annual “fall back” occurs on the first Sunday in November, marking a shift to standard time across much of the United States. Here’s what to know about the timing, reasons behind the 2 a.m. change, the Sunshine Protection Act, and more.
When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2024?
Daylight saving time for 2024 officially ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, 3 November. On this date, most Americans will set their clocks back one hour, gaining an extra hour of sleep. This annual adjustment marks the transition back to standard time, which will last until the second Sunday in March 2025.
Why Do Clocks Change at 2 a.m.?
The decision to turn clocks at 2 a.m. is rooted in transportation history. Author Michael Downing, in his book *Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time*, explains that this time was selected to minimize disruptions to rail schedules. In early New York City, 2 a.m. on a Sunday was a quiet period with no trains leaving stations, making it an ideal time for a seamless shift. According to Downing, "Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country.”
Will We Gain or Lose an Hour?
With the end of daylight saving time, clocks are set back an hour, allowing people to gain an extra hour of sleep. In the spring, when daylight saving time begins, the clock moves forward, and we lose an hour.
To keep track, a simple saying often helps: “We spring forward, and we fall back.”
Daylight Saving Time Observance Across the US
While most U.S. states follow daylight saving time, some regions do not. Hawaii, parts of Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation), and U.S. territories such as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands remain on standard time year-round. States are permitted to opt out under the Uniform Time Act, allowing them to stay on standard time if they so choose.
A Brief History of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time was first introduced in the U.S. in 1918 during World War I as a means to save energy and was initially referred to as “war time.” After the war, the practice was discontinued due to lack of financial motivation. The concept was revived in 1966 with the Uniform Time Act, which initially set daylight saving from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
In 2005, daylight saving time was extended to begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November, as it does today. This extension was backed by a U.S. Department of Energy study indicating an energy saving of approximately 0.5% per day, or around 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
What Is the Purpose of Daylight Saving?
The primary objective of daylight saving time is to make use of more daylight during waking hours, which proponents argue saves energy and promotes public health and safety. Critics, however, question its effectiveness, particularly in the modern era.
The Sunshine Protection Act and a Permanent Change
The Sunshine Protection Act, proposed in 2021, aims to make daylight saving time the permanent standard across the U.S. Although the Act passed the Senate in 2022, it did not progress in the House of Representatives, leaving its future uncertain.
Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All, has emphasized that a permanent daylight saving time would "promote stability" and reduce the biannual disruptions to sleep patterns and schedules. However, until further action is taken, the twice-yearly time changes will continue.
What About 2025?
Looking ahead, daylight saving time for 2025 will begin on Sunday, 9 March, and end on Sunday, 2 November. Until then, Americans will continue to adjust their clocks each fall and spring, keeping with the current cycle.
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