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Time Change 2003 in the United States

Next change:
Nov
3
1 hour Back

Nov 3, 2024, 2:00 am

Country: United States
Long Name: United States of America
Abbreviations: US, USA
Capital: Washington DC
Time Zones: 7 (Main Country)
Total Time Zones: 12 (with dependencies)
Dial Code: +1

Apr 6

Forward 1 hour

Apr 6, 2003 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, April 6, 2003, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, April 6, 2003, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Apr 6, 2003 than the day before. There was more light in the evening.

Also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.

Oct 26

Back 1 hour

Oct 26, 2003 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, October 26, 2003, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, October 26, 2003, 1:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Oct 26, 2003 than the day before. There was more light in the morning.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

Other years: 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2024

When Does DST Start and End in the US?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in most of the United States starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Which States and Federal Districts use Daylight Saving Time in 2003

Areas in United States using DST in 2003
Areas in United States on standard time all of 2003

DST in States and Federal Districts in USA in 2003
(51 in total, 48 where all observe DST, 1 which doesn't observe DST, 2 with parts on DST)

AlabamaApr 6 – Oct 26KansasApr 6 – Oct 26North DakotaApr 6 – Oct 26
AlaskaApr 6 – Oct 26KentuckyApr 6 – Oct 26OhioApr 6 – Oct 26
Arizona (northeast)Apr 6 – Oct 26LouisianaApr 6 – Oct 26OklahomaApr 6 – Oct 26
ArizonaNo DSTMaineApr 6 – Oct 26OregonApr 6 – Oct 26
ArkansasApr 6 – Oct 26MarylandApr 6 – Oct 26PennsylvaniaApr 6 – Oct 26
CaliforniaApr 6 – Oct 26MassachusettsApr 6 – Oct 26Rhode IslandApr 6 – Oct 26
ColoradoApr 6 – Oct 26MichiganApr 6 – Oct 26South CarolinaApr 6 – Oct 26
ConnecticutApr 6 – Oct 26MinnesotaApr 6 – Oct 26South DakotaApr 6 – Oct 26
DelawareApr 6 – Oct 26MississippiApr 6 – Oct 26TennesseeApr 6 – Oct 26
District of ColumbiaApr 6 – Oct 26MissouriApr 6 – Oct 26TexasApr 6 – Oct 26
FloridaApr 6 – Oct 26MontanaApr 6 – Oct 26UtahApr 6 – Oct 26
GeorgiaApr 6 – Oct 26NebraskaApr 6 – Oct 26VermontApr 6 – Oct 26
HawaiiNo DSTNevadaApr 6 – Oct 26VirginiaApr 6 – Oct 26
IdahoApr 6 – Oct 26New HampshireApr 6 – Oct 26WashingtonApr 6 – Oct 26
IllinoisApr 6 – Oct 26New JerseyApr 6 – Oct 26West VirginiaApr 6 – Oct 26
IndianaNo DSTNew MexicoApr 6 – Oct 26WisconsinApr 6 – Oct 26
Indiana (northwest)Apr 6 – Oct 26New YorkApr 6 – Oct 26WyomingApr 6 – Oct 26
IowaApr 6 – Oct 26North CarolinaApr 6 – Oct 26

DST in Other Locations in USA in 2003 (1 Location)

Palmyra AtollNo DST

Which States Don't Use DST?

Most of Arizona and Hawaii don't use DST. Indiana introduced DST in 2006.

Daylight Saving Time in Dependencies of USA

DependencyTypeDaylight Saving Time Period
American SamoaUnincorp. unorg. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
GuamUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
Northern Mariana IslandsUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
Puerto RicoUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
US Minor Outlying IslandsTerritoryNo Daylight Saving Time
US Virgin IslandsUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time

US dependencies do not use Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Daylight Saving Time History in United States

DST in the USA Today

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the USA starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The current schedule was introduced in 2007 and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

According to section 110 of the act, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the use of DST. The law does not affect the rights of the states and territories that choose not to observe DST.

Confusing DST Rules

Historically, there were no uniform rules for DST from 1945 to 1966. This caused widespread confusion, especially in transport and broadcasting. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 aligned the switch dates across the USA for the first time.

Following the 1973 oil embargo, the US Congress extended the DST period to 10 months in 1974 and 8 months in 1975, in an effort to save energy.

After the energy crisis was over in 1976, the DST schedule in the US was revised several times. From 1987 to 2006, the country observed DST for about 7 months each year.