Daylight Saving Time Clocks: As autumn settles in, millions of Americans are about to experience the year’s last clock change when daylight saving time (DST) officially ends on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m. local time. This annual “fall back” moment means clocks will be set back an hour, providing an extra hour of sleep and transitioning us back to standard time until DST resumes next spring.

For those living in the Northeast and across the Eastern Standard Time zone, the shift from Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to Eastern Standard Time (EST) means clocks move from being four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to five hours behind UTC. This change is widely appreciated, especially by those who enjoy the slightly lighter mornings, though it also means evenings will grow darker earlier.

What is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight saving time was designed to make better use of daylight during the warmer months, adding an hour to the day by adjusting clocks forward in March, known as “springing forward.” When DST ends in November, we return to standard time, or “fall back,” which helps brighten winter mornings but shortens daylight in the evenings. For the Northern Hemisphere, this cycle starts with DST resuming each March and ends in November.

A Growing Debate: Will Daylight Saving Time Become Permanent?

The tradition of changing clocks twice annually has sparked debate across the country. In 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act aimed to make daylight saving time permanent, passing the Senate unanimously but stalling in the House, leaving the act unsigned by the President. While many Americans favor eliminating the twice-yearly time shift, the legislation has yet to advance further. This ongoing debate has left the question of permanent DST unsettled, at least for now.

Which States Don’t Follow Daylight Saving Time?

Not all U.S. states and territories observe daylight saving time. Hawaii and most of Arizona—with the exception of the Navajo Nation—do not change their clocks due to their specific climates and daylight patterns. Additionally, U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands remain on standard time year-round.

For the rest of the country, the clock change on November 3 marks a shift into shorter days and longer nights, at least until the clocks “spring forward” again in March 2025. Whether you’re in it for the extra hour of sleep or simply marking the changing seasons, remember to set your clocks back and enjoy the cozy autumnal transition as daylight saving time winds down for the year.