SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Daylight saving time commenced at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025, meaning clocks across the U.S. advanced by one hour. While this change implies one less hour of sleep, it also provides one extra hour of evening daylight. The primary objective of daylight saving time is to optimize the use of daylight during the longer days of spring and summer.
For the residents and visitors of San Diego, this shift translates to more daylight hours perfect for outdoor activities, leisurely exploration, or simply soaking up the beautiful coastal sunsets. Many locals might wonder: What time will sunset be after daylight savings here? According to timeanddate.com, the sunset times for San Diego following the change are as follows:
| Date | Sunrise Time | Sunset Time |
| --------------| ------------ | ------------ |
| March 9, 2025 | 7:06 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. |
| March 10, 2025| 7:04 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. |
| March 11, 2025| 7:03 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. |
| March 12, 2025| 7:02 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. |
| March 13, 2025| 7:00 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. |
| March 14, 2025| 6:59 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. |
| March 15, 2025| 6:58 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. |
For those eager to catch the sunset this week, San Diego boasts multiple scenic spots along its coastline for the perfect viewing experience. Enjoy the extended daylight, San Diego!
Across the nation, the conversation surrounding daylight saving time is gaining momentum. If some lawmakers have their way, the recent clock adjustment could be the last one for quite some time. Polls indicate a growing preference among Americans for permanent daylight saving time—a switch many see as beneficial.
After Sunday’s change, residents woke up to daylight not reflective of the hour on their clocks. For example, people living in Los Angeles noted the sun rose at around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday compared to approximately 6:30 a.m. the previous Saturday. Similarly, the setting sun transitioned from about 6:10 p.m. to 7:12 p.m. A typical summer day with daylight saving time means the earliest sunrises could come at approximately 5:40 a.m. with sunsets pushing to around 8:10 p.m.
If the switch to year-round daylight saving time were to be put in place, one main change would be how late the sun rises and the earliest it sets during winter. While average winter days currently have the latest sunrise around 7:00 a.m. and the earliest sunset at 4:45 p.m., a permanent daylight saving time would shift those times to 8:00 a.m. and 5:43 p.m., respectively.
Here's how this would affect other U.S. cities, using recent data:
| City | Latest Sunrise/Earliest Sunset When DST Ends | Latest Sunrise/Earliest Sunset With Permanent DST |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Austin | 7:28 a.m./5:30 p.m. | 8:28 a.m./6:30 p.m. |
| Charlotte, NC | 7:32 a.m./5:11 p.m. | 8:32 a.m./6:11 p.m. |
| Chicago | 7:18 a.m./4:19 p.m. | 8:18 a.m./5:19 p.m. |
| Cleveland, OH | 7:53 a.m./4:57 p.m. | 8:53 a.m./5:57 p.m. |
| Denver | 7:21 a.m./4:35 p.m. | 8:21 a.m./5:35 p.m. |
| Grand Rapids | 8:14 a.m./5:08 p.m. | 9:14 a.m./6:08 p.m. |
| Green Bay | 7:29 a.m./4:12 p.m. | 8:29 a.m./5:12 p.m. |
| Indianapolis | 8:06 a.m./5:20 p.m. | 9:06 a.m./6:20 p.m. |
| Las Vegas | 6:52 a.m./4:26 p.m. | 7:52 a.m./5:26 p.m. |
| Los Angeles | 6:59 a.m./4:43 p.m. | 7:59 a.m./5:43 p.m. |
| New York City | 7:20 a.m./4:28 p.m. | 8:20 a.m./5:28 p.m. |
While the research — and history — tends to lean against permanent daylight saving time, it has been proposed multiple times since the 1900s. The concept first appeared as a wartime measure, initiated during World War I and briefly adopted again during World War II. The last notable attempt at permanent daylight saving time was during the 1970s, culminating due to safety concerns leading back to the standard bi-annual clock changes.
This year, there are four bills presented to Congress—two seeking to establish permanent daylight saving time and another two allowing states to observe it year-round. All four proposals are still sorting through committee discussions as of early March.
Currently, states cannot opt for year-round daylight saving time, though they can request to observe standard time year-round. For now, the clock is set to “fall back” by one hour on Sunday, November 2, 2025.