As the days get shorter and the leaves start changing colors, the clock is about to change once again. This September, many people have already faced significant reductions in daylight, hinting at the impending time shift next month when daylight saving time officially concludes.
Attempts to standardize time at both state and federal levels have been ongoing this year. However, the majority of the U.S. is set to lose an hour of sleep next month as we revert to standard time, which will impact sunrise and sunset timings.
Health experts suggest there are multiple advantages to earlier sunrises and sunsets, such as increased sunlight exposure, which can positively affect sleep. On the flip side, this also means that many will be commuting home in the darkness.
Take, for instance, someone living in Chicago. Just the day before the end of daylight saving time on November 1, the sun will rise at 7:23 AM and set around 5:45 PM. By the following day, the sunrise shifts to about 6:25 AM and the sunset becomes noticeably earlier at approximately 4:43 PM.
If you work until 5 PM, chances are you’ll be heading home after the sun has already set—a reality for millions across the U.S. who will deal with this change from November to March.
The following table illustrates sunrise and sunset times just before and after the daylight saving transition for various cities:
| City | Sunrise/Sunset Day Before DST Ends | Sunrise/Sunset Day DST Ends |
| Austin | 7:45 AM/6:43 PM | 6:46 AM/5:42 PM |
| Charlotte, NC | 7:45 AM/6:28 PM | 6:46 AM/5:27 PM |
| Chicago | 7:23 AM/5:44 PM | 6:25 AM/4:43 PM |
| Cleveland, OH | 8:01 AM/6:29 PM | 7:02 AM/5:28 PM |
| Denver | 7:29 AM/5:57 PM | 6:30 AM/4:56 PM |
| Grand Rapids | 8:18 AM/6:34 PM | 7:19 AM/5:33 PM |
| Green Bay | 7:30 AM/5:41 PM | 6:31 AM/4:39 PM |
| Indianapolis | 8:14 AM/6:42 PM | 7:15 AM/5:41 PM |
| Juneau, AK | 9:29 AM/5:56 PM | 8:32 AM/4:54 PM |
| Las Vegas | 7:04 AM/5:44 PM | 6:05 AM/4:43 PM |
| Los Angeles | 7:13 AM/6:00 PM | 6:14 AM/4:59 PM |
| Nashville | 7:10 AM/5:51 PM | 6:11 AM/4:50 PM |
| New Haven | 7:23 AM/5:47 PM | 6:25 AM/4:45 PM |
| New Orleans | 7:14 AM/6:13 PM | 6:15 AM/5:12 PM |
| New York City | 7:27 AM/5:52 PM | 6:28 AM/4:51 PM |
| Portland, OR | 7:51 AM/5:57 PM | 6:52 AM/4:55 PM |
| Salt Lake City | 7:58 AM/6:23 PM | 7:00 AM/5:22 PM |
| St. Louis | 7:28 AM/6:00 PM | 6:29 AM/4:59 PM |
| Tampa | 7:41 AM/6:45 PM | 6:42 AM/5:44 PM |
| Washington, DC | 7:36 AM/6:07 PM | 6:37 AM/5:06 PM |
This year, several states, including Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas, have enacted laws aimed at maintaining permanent daylight saving time, but these decisions still need further legislative approval.
Further, proposals have surfaced in states like Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio for similar permanent time changes. Lawmakers in Michigan and Indiana are also exploring options to exempt their states from daylight saving time altogether. California, Nevada, and Wisconsin have introduced bills for permanent standard time. New York has found itself in the middle of the daylight saving debate as well.
Almost every state has proposed at least one law regarding the seasonal time change this year. Meanwhile, Congress is evaluating several bills related to this issue, but none have successfully passed.
For now, the clock will fall back an hour on November 2 before we spring forward again in March.
