Has spring finally sprung in Texas? Not quite, but we’re getting close!
We need to get through daylight saving time before we can get to the spring equinox.
When do clocks spring forward?
In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 10, millions of Texans will lose an hour of sleep. Once the clocks reach 2 a.m. CST, they will “spring” forward to 3 a.m.
Your mobile phones, computers, tablets and smart watches will, anyway. You’ll have to manually reset other clocks, such as those on kitchen appliances — but you know what we mean.
Daylight saving time ends, and clocks go back, on November 3, 2024.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time (DST) claims a variety of other names: daylight savings time, daylight time, summer time (not to be confused with summertime). It refers to the practice of setting clocks forward by one hour during the warmer months of the year, and then setting them back one hour in the fall.
One way to remember the pattern: “spring forward, fall back.”
Daylight saving time is coming. Here’s when clocks spring forward
The idea dates back to World War I, although some credit Benjamin Franklin for daylight saving time due to a satirical letter he wrote in 1784 stating: “Every morning, as soon as the sun rises, let all the bells in every church be set ringing: and if that is not sufficient, let cannon be fired in every street to wake the sluggards effectually.”
To maximize resources for the war, Germany and Austria implemented the first daylight saving time in 1916. The U.S. did the same in 1918. An outdated idea, some argue.
The general idea of daylight saving time is to maximize the use of natural daylight, according to the Almanac. This always occurs around the summer months. As the earth moves around the sun and is tilted on its axis, certain parts of the world experience longer days during certain months. For those in the northern hemisphere, like the U.S., these longer days run from March to November, with June to August seeing the longest days.
For those in the southern hemisphere, such as Australia, the seasons are reversed: June through August mark winter months and are therefore the shortest of the year.
When is the spring equinox?
The spring equinox, also known as the first day of spring, is March 19, 2024.
What is the spring equinox?Here’s 3 things to know about the start of spring
Is this the last daylight saving time?
In Texas House Bill 1442, state representatives last year took a side in the debate about axing one of the spring and fall clock changes.
The House voted 138-5 to approve HB 1442 and stay on daylight saving time moving forward.
The bill was sent to the Senate but remained in a committee as the 88th legislative session adjourned on May 29.
Tired of changing the clock twice a year?Texas lawmakers are looking to change it
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, if HB 1422 were to become law, Texas would join 19 other states that have passed measures for year-round observation of daylight saving time. The law can’t go into effect until Congress grants states the authority to observe daylight saving time year-round.
The proposal has gained bipartisan support, as many lawmakers and their constituents agree DST is now an unnecessary burden.
— Austin American-Statesman reporter Marley Malenfant contributed to this report.
First appeared on www.statesman.com