Daylight Saving Time to End Soon: What You Need to Know

Daylight Saving Time will soon come to an end for the year in the United States. On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m. local time, clocks will turn back by one hour, marking the conclusion of the twice-annual change that impacts the majority of Americans. This practice, while commonly observed, has both supporters and critics.

Most U.S. states participate in Daylight Saving Time every March and November. The process involves “falling back” in November, which offers an extra hour of sleep, and “springing forward” in March, where an hour is lost. This adjustment can often disrupt routines for parents, children, and pets alike.

Daylight Saving Time for 2024 began on March 10 and will resume on March 9, 2025. During this period, clocks are adjusted to provide more daylight in the evenings, while “falling back” in November allows for more daylight in winter mornings, according to proponents.

The debate over making Daylight Saving Time permanent has reached legislative levels. The U.S. Senate approved the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, a bill intended to eliminate the biannual clock changes. However, the House of Representatives did not pass the bill, and it was not signed into law by President Joe Biden. The proposal remains stagnant in Congress.

In terms of geographical exceptions, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe Daylight Saving Time. Due to its desert climate, Arizona avoids the time change, except in the Navajo Nation, which adheres to the practice. Similarly, Hawaii, owing to its proximity to the equator where daylight variance is minimal, chooses not to participate.

According to experts, the end of Daylight Saving Time this year will cause daybreak to happen earlier, but shorten daylight in the evening. Hanne Hoffmann, an assistant professor in the animal science department at Michigan State University, points out that this change can lead to seasonal depression for a segment of the population, estimated to affect 15-20% of people in Michigan, many undiagnosed. “You can just have less energy, or you can have full-blown depression,” said Hoffmann, “It’s associated with natural light and getting this bright sunlight.”

Bob Dukesherer, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, noted that by early December, locations such as Lansing, Michigan, experience significant reductions in daylight, with only 9 hours and 2 minutes at the December winter solstice. Hoffmann recommends the use of light therapy lamps, available from various retailers, as a remedy for those experiencing seasonal affective disorder.