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Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, Nov. 4; Shorter Days and Earlier Sunsets on the Way in the Weeks Ahead

By Paul T. Choate

Nov. 3, 2012. It’s almost that time again. Time to fall back in preparation for the cold late-fall and winter months ahead.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, so remember to set your clocks back one hour. The fall back comes a few days earlier this year than in either of the last two years (see table below) and will continue to trend earlier through 2015.

This annual change of the time will result in some noticeably different conditions during when most people are commuting to and from work. On Saturday, the final full day of daylight saving time, the sun will rise at 7:52 a.m. and will set at at 6:28 p.m. However, beginning Sunday and into the coming days, the sun will be coming up just before 7 a.m. and sunset occurs closer to 5:30 p.m. — and the days will just get shorter through Dec. 20. Therefore, for those on a regular “9 to 5” work schedule, you may have seen just about the last of it still being light out when you get home from work — at least for the next couple of months. 

Looking on the bright side though, for at least a little while you will get to feel like you are “sleeping in” for an hour in the mornings before giving in and allowing the alarm clock to win. 

While you are checking your clocks, it is also a great time to check the smoke detectors in your residence. You should test your smoke detectors at least once per month and replace the batteries in them at least once per year. Even wired smoke detectors should be tested frequently. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.

For more information about daylight saving time, check out this infographic. For more information about fire safety, visit nfpa.org.

United States daylight saving time

Year Spring Forward Fall Back
2004 2 a.m. April 4 2 a.m. Oct. 31
2005 2 a.m. April 3 2 a.m. Oct. 30
2006 2 a.m. April 2 2 a.m. Oct. 29
2007 2.a.m. March 11 2 a.m. Nov. 4
2008 2 a.m. March 9 2 a.m. Nov. 2
2009 2 a.m. March 8 2 a.m. Nov. 1
2010 2 a.m. March 14 2 a.m. Nov 7
2011 2 a.m. March 13 2 a.m. Nov. 6
2012 2 a.m. March 11 2 a.m. Nov. 4
2013 2 a.m. March 10 2 a.m. Nov. 3
2014 2 a.m. March 9 2 a.m. Nov. 2
2015 2 a.m. March 8 2 a.m. Nov. 1
2016 2 a.m. March 13 2 a.m. Nov. 6

 

Clock graphic by Daniel FR.