Most Americans will get to sleep in an extra hour Sunday, but they will also find the afternoon skies a bit darker than usual, as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.
Daylight Saving Time began in March when we set our clocks forward, to take advantage of longer days and save energy. Now it is time to set the clocks back to Standard Time in a ritual that marks the coming of winter.
One potential perk for the late-night crowd is that the legal 2 a.m. closing time could happen twice at the bars, but bartenders are not known for pouring after the first observance of last call.
"I have not seen this happen in the 13 years I have been here," said Ketchum Police Sgt. Adam Johnson.
In accordance with federal law, clocks across the country will be set back one hour Sunday morning, Nov. 7. at 2 a.m., bringing brighter mornings and shorter afternoons.
The practice of extending and shortening days in the U.S. began during World War I. Only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not conform to the time change. Indiana adopted the national standard only recently, in 2006.
Since 2007, Daylight Saving Time has been four weeks longer due to the passage of the Energy Policy Act in 2005. It was passed to strengthen the electricity grid and reduce energy consumption.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com