SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Residents across Central New York will turn back their clocks tonight as Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday. The annual fall time change marks the transition to Standard Time, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep overnight while also bringing noticeably earlier sunsets beginning Sunday evening.
At 2 a.m., clocks will “fall back” one hour to 1 a.m., marking the end of the eight-month period of extended evening daylight. Residents are reminded to adjust all manual clocks around their homes before going to bed tonight, as most smartphones and digital devices will update automatically. Authorities also recommend taking this opportunity to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functioning properly — a common safety practice that coincides with the biannual time change.
For Sunday, the shift will bring a new sunrise time of 6:40 a.m. and an earlier sunset at 4:54 p.m. The shorter daylight period will continue to decrease in the coming weeks as the region heads deeper into late autumn. By mid-November, the sun will set around 4:40 p.m., and by early December, it will dip below the horizon at approximately 4:31 p.m. The steady decline will slow by mid-December, with sunsets hovering near 4:30 p.m. until the winter solstice on December 21 — the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight.
The end of Daylight Saving Time often brings a psychological adjustment for many, as evening darkness arrives much earlier. While the extra morning light may be welcome, the earlier sunsets can contribute to a sense of shorter days and cooler evenings as the region transitions toward winter.
Meanwhile, the weekend weather for Central New York begins on a gloomy note but shows gradual improvement heading into Sunday. On Saturday, skies are expected to remain mostly cloudy, with scattered lake-effect sprinkles and light rain showers affecting the Syracuse area and surrounding communities. The conditions stem from a steady northwest wind blowing at 10 to 15 mph in the morning, strengthening to 15 to 20 mph by midday and afternoon, with occasional gusts reaching 30 mph. Winds are forecast to ease by evening, becoming calm overnight.
Temperatures will remain on the chilly side through Saturday, hovering in the lower 40s during the morning and climbing only slightly into the mid to upper 40s by afternoon. The persistent breeze will keep the wind chill values in the upper 30s throughout the day, giving the region a brisk late-autumn feel. Despite the cool air, the weather pattern is expected to stabilize overnight as the winds diminish and skies remain mostly cloudy.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Central New Yorkers can expect more pleasant conditions. The atmosphere will dry out considerably, and temperatures will rebound closer to seasonal norms. Morning conditions will be calm, with a light west wind developing by afternoon at around 5 to 10 mph. The sky will remain mostly cloudy early in the day but will transition to partly sunny skies as the afternoon progresses. Highs are forecast to reach the lower 50s, aligning closely with the average for early November.
The upcoming week will continue to feature typical early November weather, with a mix of cool, breezy days and periods of sunshine. As Central New York adjusts to shorter daylight hours, the community will also experience the gradual slide toward winter, with average daily highs expected to dip further as November progresses.
While the end of Daylight Saving Time brings the yearly ritual of changing clocks and adapting to darker evenings, it also signals the approach of the holiday season and the winter months ahead. For now, residents can look forward to one small consolation — an extra hour of sleep tonight before waking up to a brighter early morning on Sunday and the reality of earlier sunsets that will carry through to the year’s end.
