CHEYENNE, Wyo. — It’s that time of year again: Wyoming residents are reminded to set their clocks back one hour tonight as daylight saving time comes to a close. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, clocks will “fall back,” giving everyone an extra hour of rest but also leading to shorter, darker evenings in the weeks ahead.
Today in Cheyenne, sunrise was at 7:32 a.m. and sunset is expected at 5:52 p.m. After clocks turn back tonight, Sunday’s sunrise will be at 6:33 a.m. and sunset will arrive significantly earlier at 4:51 p.m., giving mornings a brighter start but bringing dusk earlier than many might be used to.
Daylight saving time has a long history, rooted in the desire to make the best use of natural daylight, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The idea dates back to World War I, when the U.S. first enacted the Standard Time Act of 1918 as an energy-saving measure.
Originally, the extra daylight in the evenings was intended to reduce the need for artificial lighting, which helped conserve fuel needed for the war effort. This practice became known as “war time” during World War II, when it was reintroduced for similar reasons.
Following the war, daylight saving time continued but without a clear nationwide standard, leading to confusion. For decades, states and local governments set their own rules, which created challenges for transportation, broadcasting and businesses operating across state lines.
Finally, in 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, establishing a consistent schedule for daylight saving time across the country.
Since then, the exact start and end dates have been modified a few times, with the current schedule set in 2007 under the Energy Policy Act. Daylight saving now begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November, giving Americans a few extra weeks of extended evening light each year.
As the clock falls back tonight, Wyomingites will experience brighter mornings for the next few months, a welcome change as winter draws near. However, the early sunsets may feel like an adjustment, especially as daylight becomes scarcer heading into the winter solstice.
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