The autumnal, or fall, equinox occurred Tuesday, Sept. 22, marking the official start to the season, but that doesn't mean it's time to set your clocks back.
Daylight Saving Time doesn't end until 2 a.m.
on Nov. 1, 2026, the first Sunday in November — in the early morning after Halloween — pushing sunset and sunrise one hour earlier. Many clocks on digital devices will automatically switch with the time change, though you may need to manually change some household and car clocks.
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Meteorological fall, based on weather conditions, began on Sept. 1 and will last until Nov. 30, according to AccuWeather. Astronomical fall, on the other hand, will end with the winter solstice on Dec. 21.
Here's what to know about DST in Michigan this fall.
Is fall in Michigan?
The fall equinox takes place at 8:04 p.m. Sept. 22, marking the start of astronomical fall in Michigan. The time points to the moment when the Earth tilts equally toward and away from the Sun and brings nearlyequal amounts of daylight to all latitudes.
Do we lose or gain an hour in the fall?
As clocks turn backward, we lose an hour of sleep with the end of Daylight Saving Time.
How much longer until DST ends for 2026?
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2026, the first Sunday in November. Clocks will be set back one hour, leading to sunrise and sunset coming an hour earlier.
While many digital devices like smartphones, televisions, tablets and computers automatically adjust to the time difference, you'll still need to manually change analog clocks and you may need to on digital alarm clocks or household appliance or vehicle clocks as well, per the University of Colorado Boulder.
What does 'fall back, spring forward' mean?
According to dictionary.com, daylight saving, commonly referred to as daylight savings, "is begun in the spring by setting clocks one hour ahead. They are then set one hour back in the fall. ... People often use the simple mnemonic spring forward, fall back to remember to set clocks forward one hour (e.g., from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.) in the spring and backward one hour (e.g., from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m.) in the fall."
What is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time, often called daylight savings time, is when "daylight" begins an hour later in the morning and lasts an hour longer in the evening, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The clock change allows the hour of daylight to stay coordinated with the time most people are active outside. Daylight saving time is supposed to save energy, since during the warmer months the majority of people will be outside and not home, which saves energy.
Is it daylight saving or daylight savings?
While it is often referred to as Daylight Savings Time, Daylight Saving Time without the "s" at the end is the correct term.
When will DST begin in 2027?
We'll spring forward at 2 a.m. on March 14, 2027, with clocks to be set one hour forward, marking the return of DST for 2027. This will make sunrise and sunset one hour later.
USA TODAY contributed.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Time to fall back? Here's when you should set your clocks
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