Daylight Saving Time Ends Soon: When to Turn Back Your Clocks in 2024

As we approach the end of the year, daylight saving time (DST) is coming to an end for most U.S. states. In just a few weeks, on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m., clocks will “fall back” by one hour, giving many an extra hour of sleep. This shift will mark the official return to standard time, with earlier sunrises and nightfall arriving before 7 p.m. for the months ahead.

Despite ongoing efforts to make daylight saving time permanent, millions of Americans will still have to reset their clocks. Here’s everything you need to know about the end of DST in 2024, its history, and the potential future of time changes.

Daylight Saving Time Ends Soon: When to Turn Back Your Clocks in 2024

When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2024?

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m. local time. This is when clocks across most of the United States will move backward by one hour, effectively shifting time from daylight saving time to standard time.

For those wondering when we “spring forward” again, that date is set for Sunday, March 9, 2025, when daylight saving time will begin once more.

Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?

The concept of daylight saving time dates back over a century. First introduced during World War I by Germany in an effort to conserve energy by maximizing daylight, it quickly spread to other countries, including the United States.

However, it wasn’t until the Uniform Time Act of 1966 that the U.S. established nationwide observance of daylight saving time.

Initially, the goal was to reduce energy consumption by aligning waking hours with daylight, thus cutting down on the need for artificial lighting.

Over time, studies have shown mixed results on the actual energy savings from DST. Today, many argue that modern energy-efficient technologies have diminished its original purpose.

The Changing Impact of Daylight Saving Time

While DST was historically implemented to conserve energy, the impact of daylight saving on energy usage has become less clear in recent years.

With advancements in technology, such as energy-efficient lighting and appliances, the actual energy savings from DST have decreased.

However, some of the key impacts of DST include:

  • Public Safety: The transition to daylight saving time in the spring has been associated with an increase in traffic accidents, heart attacks, and workplace injuries, likely due to the disruption in sleep patterns. Ending DST in the fall is seen as less harmful, as the “fall back” provides an extra hour of sleep.
  • Mental Health: The shift back to standard time can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for some people, as the early sunsets and lack of evening daylight can contribute to feelings of depression. This has led to calls for making daylight saving time permanent to avoid the sudden change in daylight hours.

Current Efforts to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Although many Americans look forward to the extra hour of sleep when clocks fall back in November, there is growing support for eliminating the biannual time change altogether. In fact, over the past few years, several states have passed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent.

One of the most significant efforts to lock the clock at daylight saving time year-round is the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio. The Act proposes to make DST permanent across the U.S. to avoid the clock change in both fall and spring.

Although a version of the bill passed the Senate in 2022, it failed to progress in the House of Representatives. As a result, Americans will continue to observe DST changes until further legislative action is taken.

States That Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time

Not all states participate in daylight saving time. Arizona and Hawaii are the two U.S. states that have opted out of DST and remain on standard time year-round. However, the Navajo Nation, which extends into parts of Arizona, does observe DST.

Additionally, U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not observe daylight saving time, staying on standard time throughout the year.

U.S. States That Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time

State/Territory Status Notes
Arizona Does not observe DST Stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round.
Hawaii Does not observe DST Stays on Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time year-round.
Puerto Rico Does not observe DST Remains on Atlantic Standard Time year-round.
U.S. Virgin Islands Does not observe DST Remains on Atlantic Standard Time year-round.
Guam Does not observe DST Remains on Chamorro Standard Time year-round.
American Samoa Does not observe DST Remains on Samoa Standard Time year-round.

The Future of Daylight Saving Time in the U.S.

Despite the growing push to end daylight saving time, the practice’s future remains uncertain. While multiple states have passed laws supporting permanent DST, these laws cannot take effect without Congressional approval.

Currently, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 requires that states either observe standard time or switch to DST for a portion of the year.

The debate over whether to abolish the time change revolves around several key factors:

  • Health Impacts: As mentioned earlier, the disruption caused by the springtime switch to DST has been linked to health risks such as increased heart attacks and accidents. Some argue that a permanent shift to daylight saving time could mitigate these risks.
  • Energy Conservation: While DST was originally designed to save energy, modern research suggests that the impact on energy consumption is minimal. As energy-efficient technologies continue to improve, the argument for DST as a means of conservation is losing traction.
  • Public Preference: Surveys have shown that many Americans prefer the idea of staying on daylight saving time year-round, enjoying the extra daylight during the evening hours, particularly in the summer months.

Conclusion

As November 3, 2024, approaches, Americans will once again turn back their clocks and prepare for the shorter days of winter. Although the twice-yearly clock change remains in place for now, the push for permanent daylight saving time is gaining momentum, with both state-level initiatives and federal proposals aiming to end the practice of resetting clocks.

Until Congress acts, however, the familiar routine of “springing forward” and “falling back” will continue, leaving many to wonder if the time change is truly necessary in the modern age.