Daylight saving time: When do clocks change? When do we spring forward?

Are you tired of going home in the dark of winter, hoping for the brighter’s days of spring? Just be patient, daylight saving time is on the way.

When exactly?

Daylight saving time officially starts Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. Most people set their clocks one hour ahead (or let their smart devices do it for them) the night before.

Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on March 8, pushing the daylight hours into the afternoon.

We will enjoy the brighter afternoons until Nov. 1 when daylight saving time ends and we “fall back” by moving our clocks back one hour.

Why do we spring forward? 

Daylight saving time originally began as an effort to save fuel used to light and heat homes during war time. It went away shortly after World War I, only to return during World War II. It was used year-round during the war but the practice wasn’t used consistently among the states after the hostilities ended.

It took federal action to standardize the time change.

Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, establishing a schedule for DST: clocks would be moved ahead one hour on the last Sunday in April and one hour back on the last Sunday in October.

The schedule was altered several times in the following decades, most recently by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which set the start of DST (springing forward) at the second Sunday in March and the ending of DST (fall back) on the first Sunday in November.

SportsPlus

News

Alabama man convicted in fentanyl overdose death of 15-year-old girl

News

Alabama man killed in early morning collision, state troopers say

News

Worker killed after rock collapse at Alabama mine

News

Man killed by Alabama officers after he lunged at them with knife identified

News

Unoccupied police car crashes into Alabama restaurant patio injuring two adults, two children

News

Four dead, more than 20 injured after Alabama mass shooting

News

Alabama teen killed when ATV strikes tree, state troopers say

News

Alabama motorcyclist killed, another driver charged with his death after crash, state troopers say

News

Alabama man killed when car runs off road, hits utility pole, gas line, then tree, state troopers say

News

Alabama deputies involved in multi-state car chase, ending with shooting

News

Alabama man arrested after reportedly planting GPS device on car to stalk victim

News

Alabama man found guilty of plotting to murder federal prosecutor

News

Alabama police confiscate animals after photo shows malnourished dog chained to car

News

Alabama man killed when personal watercraft hits log, throws man onto shore, state police say

News

Alabama man killed when motorcycle strikes guardrail, state troopers say

News

15-year-old driver leads Alabama police on 5-county chase

News

Alabama motorcyclist killed in crash with SUV, 18-wheeler

News

Alabama man killed in head-on collision with SUV, state troopers say

News

92-year-old man, his 88-year-old wife killed in apparent murder-suicide, Alabama police say

News

Alabama woman charged with murders after elderly woman beaten with hammer dies, man’s body found

News

Alabama teen killed, three others injured including baby when car crashed into trees, state troopers say

News

Two men found dead inside apartment at Alabama senior living facility

News

Alabama woman crossing the street killed in hit-and-run accident

News

Alabama man died after having wrong organ removed during operation at Florida hospital, family claims