Say Hello To Longer Days: Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 8

CALIFORNIA Md. — Residents across Southern Maryland will set their clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, as daylight saving time begins, ushering in longer evenings and the unofficial start of the region’s spring season.

The time change means darker early mornings for commuters traveling along Routes 4 and 5, but more daylight after work for families in Calvert County, Charles County and St. Mary’s County.

For many in the tri-county area, the extra evening light signals the return of youth sports practices, waterfront walks and outdoor dining. Popular destinations such as Solomons Island and Leonardtown Square typically see an uptick in foot traffic as temperatures warm and sunsets stretch later into the evening.

Maryland observes the time change along with most of the country. Only Hawaii and most of Arizona remain on standard time year-round.

In an article from Harvard Health, “That one-hour change may not seem like much, but it can wreak havoc on people’s mental and physical well-being in the short term,” says Dr. Charles Czeisler, professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine.

To ease the transition, sleep specialists recommend gradually going to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier in the days leading up to Sunday, limiting screen time before bed and getting exposure to morning sunlight.

Before turning in Saturday night, Southern Marylanders are encouraged to set manual clocks ahead one hour and check batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, a seasonal safety habit often tied to the time change.

By Sunday evening, the sun will linger a little longer over the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, marking the beginning of brighter days ahead.

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