U.S. to ‘Fall Back’ November 2nd as Daylight Saving Time Ends
Most of the United States will revert to standard time on November 2nd, 2024, turning clocks back one hour. The change, occurring at 2:00 am local time, aims to align with variations in sunlight throughout the year, providing an extra hour of sleep for many. Exceptions include Arizona (excluding some municipalities) and Hawaii, which do not observe Daylight Saving time.
This practice originated in 1918 with the Standard Time Act,enacted by Congress during World War I to conserve energy. While attempts have been made to repeal the law over the years, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 formalized Daylight Saving Time nationwide, allowing states to opt-out.
The shift means residents will gain an hour of darkness in the evening but lose an hour of daylight in the morning, with the reverse occurring on March 8, 2026, when Daylight Saving Time resumes. U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa do not participate in the time change due to minimal seasonal variation in sunlight.
“In Puerto Rico the variation in solar energy is minimal,” explained Víctor Manuel Jiménez Acevedo, geologist and founder of the Puerto Rico Meteorological Center. “we almost always have the same amount of light, there is no dramatic reduction in sunlight.”
Legislation known as the Solar Protection Law, reintroduced in Congress in January 2025, seeks to eliminate Daylight Saving Time altogether, but has yet to be brought to a vote.
