As autumn deepens, many are preparing for the end of daylight saving time, and wondering precisely when they’ll need to turn back the clocks. This Sunday, 3rd November, marks the annual shift where most people across the United States will gain an extra hour of sleep and experience earlier morning light. So, When to Turn Back the Clocks: Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend serves as a reminder for households to get ready for this twice-yearly change that affects millions of lives.
What is Daylight Saving Time?
Clocks are set an hour ahead during daylight saving time, or DST, which runs from March to November. To create longer, brighter evenings, the goal is to prolong evening daylight. At exactly 2 a.m. local time, when daylight saving time expires in early November, the clocks “fall back” by one hour, indicating a return to standard time. Every autumn, many people look forward to the extra hour of sleep and brighter mornings that come with this transition. Therefore, if you’re wondering when to go back in time: This weekend is the last day of daylight saving time, so get ready for the change.
When Did Daylight Saving Time End in 2024?
Daylight saving time ended in 2024 on Sunday, 3 November. This return to standard time will last until Sunday, 9 March 2025, when daylight saving time begins again. Although not all states and U.S. territories observe daylight saving time, the familiar practice of “springing forward” and “falling back” is recognised across the country. As we approach this seasonal adjustment, millions look forward to the extra hour of sleep and brighter mornings that come with the end of daylight saving time this weekend.
Does Every State Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Not every U.S. territory and state observes daylight saving time. Because of their temperatures and latitudes, Arizona (except from the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not observe it. Since changing the clocks would cause the already extreme desert heat to continue into the evening, DST is viewed as impracticable in Arizona. DST is not required in Hawaii because of its closeness to the equator, which results in little variance in daylight hours throughout the year. The question of When to Turn Back the Clocks: Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend is irrelevant to residents of U.S. territories that do not observe DST, including Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Will Daylight Saving Time Ever Be Permanent?
In recent years, there has been a push to make daylight saving time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act, which was approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, proposes to stop the twice-yearly time change. However, the act did not pass in the House of Representatives, and President Joe Biden has yet to sign any related bill. Senator Marco Rubio, a long-time supporter of the act, argues that abolishing the time switch would end what he sees as an outdated and disruptive practice. He urges Americans to rally around the concept of permanently brightening their evenings without the need to switch back each autumn. Until then, When to Turn Back the Clocks: Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend remains an annual reminder for most Americans.
Preparing for the Time Change
As When to Turn Back the Clocks: Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend approaches, remember to prepare yourself for the change. Reset your clocks on Saturday night to avoid confusion, and consider adjusting your schedule slightly to ease into the new timing. The extra hour of sleep may help with the transition, but for some, the earlier sunsets may bring about challenges.
So, as When to Turn Back the Clocks: Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend draws near, it’s a reminder to both embrace and prepare for the seasonal shift.
Now the question arises as to whether Every Country or State Observe Daylight Saving Time, all over the world.
No, not every place around the world observes daylight saving time (DST). In fact, many countries and even some regions within countries do not adjust their clocks seasonally. Here’s a breakdown of how DST varies by location:
United States
In the United States, most states observe daylight saving time, but there are exceptions. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not participate in DST, though the Navajo Nation in Arizona does. Several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, also do not observe DST.
Europe
European countries observe DST but have a unified schedule. The European Union, for instance, shifts clocks forward in the spring and back in the autumn. However, there has been ongoing debate within the EU about abolishing DST entirely, and some countries are considering discontinuing the practice.
Other Parts of the World
Many countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East do not observe DST at all. Countries closer to the equator, where daylight hours are more consistent throughout the year, typically have little reason to adopt DST. Large parts of South America also do not observe DST, with some exceptions like parts of Brazil and Chile.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia has a mixed approach: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania observe DST, but Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not. New Zealand observes DST nationwide.
Why the Differences?
Whether a country observes DST often depends on its latitude and cultural or economic preferences. Countries closer to the poles tend to benefit more from DST because they experience more extreme seasonal variations in daylight, while countries near the equator have less variation and thus less need for DST.
In summary, daylight saving time is mostly observed in North America, Europe, and parts of Australasia, while many regions across Africa, Asia, and South America either have never adopted it or have chosen to discontinue it.
India does not observe daylight saving time (DST). The country stays on a consistent time zone, Indian Standard Time (IST), which is UTC+5:30, year-round. Due to its location near the equator, India has relatively consistent daylight hours throughout the year, so there is little need to adjust clocks seasonally.
The absence of DST in India is largely due to its geographical position and the minimal variation in sunrise and sunset times across seasons. Unlike countries further from the equator, which experience significant daylight changes between summer and winter, India’s daylight hours remain fairly stable. This makes DST unnecessary and allows people to follow a consistent schedule all year long.
In contrast, regions with more extreme seasonal variations in daylight, such as Europe and North America, find DST more beneficial for maximising daylight during waking hours.
