(NEXSTAR) — The days seem to be getting shorter and the temperatures are falling, both clear signs that we’re barreling toward winter. Before we get there, however, most of the U.S. must undergo the contentious practice of changing our clocks as daylight saving time comes to an end.
And if it seems as though the seasonal clock change snuck up earlier than expected, you’re right. But more on that in a moment.
We’ve been observing daylight saving time since March 9, when our clocks sprang forward an hour. While we lost an hour of sleep that Sunday, we gained later sunsets to enjoy through spring and summer.
That will all come to an end on Sunday, Nov. 2, when our clocks will fall back an hour, giving you some extra time to sleep or enjoy the Halloween weekend (unless you’re in Arizona or Hawaii).
The end of daylight saving time and the return to standard time aren’t all bad. While the days will seem to end earlier, with sunset times moving up, health experts and recent research generally agree that standard time — specifically its earlier sunrise and sunsets — are better for numerous aspects of our health.
Still, changing the clocks remains an annoyance for many. Lawmakers in Congress and nearly every state brought forth legislation this year to end the twice-a-year time change, but only a few were successful. Even in those cases, it remains only Hawaii and Arizona that will not change their clocks on Nov. 2.
Speaking of Nov. 2, that’s the second-earliest date possible for the end of daylight saving time. Since daylight saving time always ends on the first Sunday of month, the earliest possible for the clocks to fall back is Nov. 1 — which, oddly enough, will be the day daylight saving time ends in 2026, unless the U.S. finds a way to end the seasonal clock changes.
And if you’re looking ahead, daylight saving time will start on Sunday, March 8, next year. We always change our clocks on the second Sunday of March, and this will be the earliest possible start date.
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