Farewell to daylight saving time in the USA

It’s the end of October, which means two things – three things this year: Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the election is coming up, and there are only two weeks left until we say goodbye Summer time (DST) until next year.

Mark your calendars as the time change is already set. The time on the clock will change on Sunday, November 3, 2024. This schedule will be discontinued and will not be reinstated until March 9, 2025 (which, as usual, also lands on Sunday).

What time do we have if not summer time? Well, we’ll be switching back to standard time for at least a few months.

When exactly does the hour change?

The time is changed to standard time Sunday, November 3, 2024. At 2:00 amthe clocks are set back one hour. If you rely on smartwatches, smartphones and computers, there is no need to worry. Most of them adjust automatically thanks to built-in calendars that detect the change.

However, if you subconsciously rely on your oven’s clock or have an inherited cuckoo clock in your hallway, be careful and carefully change the time upon waking on Sunday, November 3rd.

Do I need to change the time this fall?

Well, it depends on where you live. If you live outside the United States of America but still reside in one US territoryyou don’t have to change your clocks.

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and even the Northern Mariana Islands observe standard time year-round. Why, you say? Because all of these areas are near the equatorwhere the length of day and night does not fluctuate that much throughout the year. So a time change would only cause slight chaos twice a year

Since there is no need to save daylight, these communities have decided to forego it Summer time change. However, some states in America do not observe daylight saving time. This is the case Arizona.

Although Arizona is nowhere near the equator (in fact, it lies between latitudes 31° 20′ N and 37° N), this is not observed Summer time change because of his hot desert climate. In a place where 645 heat-related deaths were recorded in 2023, the population actively avoids being outdoors during peak hours when the sun takes center stage. In fact, Arizona residents benefit from having fewer hours of blazing sun.

However, that wasn’t always the case: there was a time when Arizona actually observed daylight saving time. Although the state first introduced daylight saving time in 1918, it caused such public discontent that it was abandoned four decades later. Only the Navajo communities in the state of Arizona still observe daylight saving time.

Another state with a far more forgiving climate, Hawaiidoesn’t change its clocks twice a year. Thanks to its proximity to the equator – just 1,375 miles north – Hawaii enjoys a warm, tropical climate year-round.

Much like Puerto Rico and Guam, the 50th state has no need for more daylight…already has enough of it. In fact, in Hawaii the sun rises at about 7:00 a.m. in the winter, while it rises at about 5:45 a.m. in the summer. With only 70 minutes difference between the summer solstice and winter solstice, it’s no wonder Hawaii didn’t bother with daylight saving time.

So save the date: Sunday, November 3rd. Don’t forget to check everything around your home and office at the end of the weekend. Make sure all your clocks and devices show the correct time. If you miss this step, you could find yourself on the wrong time for the next six months. But look on the bright side, you’ll get an extra hour of beauty sleep!