Spring forward, referring to the start of Daylight Saving Time (DST), works by advancing the clocks forward one hour, typically at 2:00 AM local time to 3:00 AM local time, on a designated Sunday in March. This results in one less hour in that day.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
- The Change: At 2:00 AM, clocks are immediately moved forward to 3:00 AM. There is no 2:00 AM hour that day.
- When: In the United States, DST begins at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March.
- Impact: The primary effect is that people lose one hour of sleep. It also means sunrise and sunset both occur one hour later on the clock than the day before. This shift is intended to better align daylight hours with the times when people are most active.
| Time (Before) | Time (After) |
|---|---|
| 1:59 AM | 3:00 AM |
Example:
Imagine it's 1:59 AM on the second Sunday in March. A minute later, instead of the time changing to 2:00 AM, it jumps to 3:00 AM.
Purpose:
The main reason for springing forward is to save energy and make better use of daylight. By shifting the clock, more daylight hours are available during the evening when most people are awake and active.
