Daylight Saving Time in Seattle is starting on March 10.
Love it or hate it, Daylight Saving Time is still observed in Seattle. That means that on Sunday, March 10 the sunset will suddenly set an hour later at 7:08 p.m., making it the first sunset after 7:00 p.m. in 2024. Longtime Seattleites know what that means: the Big Dark will finally be over!
Read on for all the details.
Daylight Saving Time is a controversial issue here in Seattle. Back in 2019 Governor Jay Inslee actually signed a state bill that would allow for the year-round observation of daylight saving time (i.e. no more “falling back” to these early winter sunsets). Unfortunately the bill won’t go through without a federal waiver.
There is also the Sunshine Protection Act that has been introduced to Congress to make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country. That was introduced back in March 2023 with no result as of yet.
So for now, Seattle will continue to set the clocks back an hour every November. This past November 5 the sunrise was an hour earlier at 6:59 a.m. and the sun set at 4:45 p.m. The earliest sunset in Seattle this winter took place at 4:17 p.m. on December 8. After that, the days began to get incrementally longer starting on December 15.
The sun will begin to set after 6:00 p.m. for the first time this year on March 5. Then we’ll see an even more dramatic increase in sunlight five days later. Daylight Saving Time will return on March 10. On that day, the sunset will jump an hour ahead and we will once again see the sun setting after 7:00 p.m. here in Seattle.
As we look forward to the longer days, we recommend planning ahead for all the fun things to do in Seattle this spring:
- 21 Things To Do In Seattle This Spring: The Ultimate Seattle Spring Bucket List
- Where To Find Spring Flowers In Seattle And The Surrounding Region
- The Top 6 Places To See Cherry Blossoms In Seattle This Spring
- The 20 Best Outdoor Brunch Spots In Seattle To Frequent This Spring
- The Top 10 Seattle Rooftop Bars For Cocktails And Stunning Views This Spring