When Do We Change Clocks? Daylight Savings Time Details – NBC Chicago

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it seems that the time to “retreat” is near.

Despite proposals to introduce permanent daylight saving time, this project was ultimately abandoned, so everything will proceed as in recent years, meaning that this fall in many states the clocks will be moved back by one hour.

But when exactly will this happen?

Here’s what you need to know about fall and daylight saving time in the Chicago area:

When is the first day of autumn?

Fall will officially begin on September 22, 2024 at 7:44 AM Central Time.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, this is when the astronomical event that marks the beginning of autumn will occur. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox occurs in September; in the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs in March.

When does daylight saving time end?

Currently, Illinois and several states in the U.S. are on daylight saving time, which began in the spring. However, that will soon end as the clocks will “go back” for the season, giving residents a welcome extra hour of sleep.

But when does this happen?

The federal government mandates that clocks be turned back on the first Sunday in November each year. In 2024, that will be November 3.

What is daylight saving time?

Daylight saving time is a time change that usually begins in the spring and ends in the fall. Under the terms of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On these days, clocks are moved forward or back one hour.

When daylight saving time is not in effect, we call it standard time.

As it stands, Illinois is moving between the two. “Spring forward” is when the state switches to daylight saving time, while “fall back” is when it returns to standard time.

According to the Time and Date website, standard time is the local time in a country or region that does not observe daylight saving time.

“More than 60% of the world’s countries observe standard time year-round,” the site says. “The remaining countries use DST during the summer months, typically setting their clocks ahead one hour.”

Which states do not observe daylight saving time?

The annual time change will occur in Illinois and almost every U.S. state except two:

Arizona (although some Native American tribes observe daylight saving time in their territories) and Hawaii.

U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, also do not observe daylight saving time.

Which is better: daylight saving time or standard time?

Sleep experts have long questioned the harmfulness of daylight saving time.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has been pushing for a switch to permanent standard time for several years.

“By causing our biological clocks to become out of sync with the natural environment, daylight saving time increases risks to our physical health, mental well-being, and public safety,” Dr. M. Adeel Rishi, chair of the AASM Public Safety Committee and a pulmonary, sleep, and critical care physician at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, said in a statement. “A fixed standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety.”

Experts cite “a growing body of evidence” in recent years.

“A consistent standard time helps synchronize the body clock with the rising and setting of the sun,” said Dr. James A. Rowley, president of the AASM, in a press release. “This natural synchronization is optimal for healthy sleep, and sleep is essential for health, mood, performance, and safety.”

This also echoes similar sentiments from other organizations, including the National Sleep Foundation, which has stated that “seasonal time changes disrupt sleep health and should be eliminated.”

How early will the sunsets be?

You’ve probably noticed: the days are getting shorter and the sun is setting earlier. Chicago already saw its last 7 p.m. sunset this year, which took place on September 15.

By September 30, the sun will set at 6:32 p.m.

As daylight saving time approaches, sunsets will gradually advance, with sunset occurring at 4:41 p.m. when daylight saving time ends.

At the end of November, the sunset will be visible as early as 4:30 p.m.

What is the autumn equinox?

The autumnal equinox, also known as the fall equinox or September equinox, marks the halfway point between summer and winter, also known as fall.

The Earth orbits the Sun at a certain angle.

For most of the year, Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. This means that sunlight and heat fall unevenly on the northern and southern halves of the planet.

When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, it is called the summer solstice. It marks the first day of summer in the north and the first day of winter in the south.

One hundred and eighty days later, when the southern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, it is called the winter solstice. It marks the first day of winter in the north and the first day of summer in the south.

The halfway point between the solstices is the autumnal and spring equinoxes. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because during the equinoxes, day and night last almost the same amount of time—though you can get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. That gives you about 12 hours of daylight followed by 12 hours of night.