Time Change Alert: Remember to Set Your Clocks Back This Weekend
As daylight saving time (DST) comes to an end, it’s time for residents across the country to “fall back” and reset their clocks. On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2:00 a.m., clocks will shift back one hour, marking the official transition into standard time.
This annual tradition provides an extra hour of sleep, but it also signals shorter daylight hours and earlier sunsets as we move closer to winter.
For those in New Jersey, the sunset on November 3 will occur at 4:51 p.m., a stark change from the long summer evenings.
This change will continue as the winter solstice approaches on December 21, when the shortest day of the year arrives.
However, following the solstice, the days will gradually lengthen, with daylight hours steadily increasing until the summer solstice in June 2025.
Daylight saving time was first introduced as a way to make better use of daylight during the warmer months, but its twice-yearly transitions continue to be a point of debate.
Proponents argue that it saves energy and increases evening daylight hours for activities, while critics point to the disruption of sleep patterns and the challenge of adjusting to darker afternoons.
For now, the important thing is to remember to adjust your clocks this weekend.
The shift officially happens at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, but most people choose to make the change on Saturday night before heading to bed. Come Monday morning, expect an earlier sunrise but less evening light.
Looking ahead, daylight saving time will return on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 a.m. Clocks will “spring forward” again, losing an hour, but bringing back longer evening daylight.
Until then, enjoy the extra hour of rest this weekend and prepare for shorter, darker days as winter approaches.