Ohioans will gain an extra hour of sleep next month, as daylight saving time comes to an end on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m., returning the state to Eastern Standard Time for the winter months. Sunrise and sunset will shift earlier, bringing darker evenings through March.
Whether Ohio will keep changing the clocks much longer remains an open question. In July, the U.S. House voted in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would let each state decide whether to observe daylight saving time permanently. But the Senate has not scheduled a vote, and senators are set to leave Washington on Oct. 5 for a break, not returning until Nov. 9 — after the time change.
Supporters of permanent daylight saving time argue darker winter mornings are a worthwhile trade for lighter evenings, citing benefits for retail, recreation and public safety. Opponents counter that permanent standard time better matches human sleep patterns, especially for schoolchildren waiting for buses in the dark.
For now, the twice-yearly ritual continues. Ohioans are reminded to set clocks back before bed on Saturday, Oct. 31 — and it’s also a good time to check smoke detector batteries.