Time change 2024: date, precise time, all the information on the transition to winter time

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Time change 2024 date precise time all the information on

When does the October 2024 time change take place? What is the changeover time? Here is all the information you need to understand the transition to winter time.

In the month of October, the French face the change to daylight saving time every year.wintermarking the start of cooler and less bright days, with the days getting shorter. It’s this weekend that we’re going to have to reset all the clocks. The time change was introduced in France in 1976, following the oil crisis with the aim of saving energy by making the most of daylight. Thus, by moving the clocks forward one hour at the arrival of spring, we reduced the need for lighting in the evening. This system was then harmonized at European level in the 1990s, in order to facilitate trade between Member States.

We change the time precisely at 3 a.m., Sunday October 27, 2024. At 3 a.m., the clocks will have to be set back one hour in order to return to 2 hours. That night, an extra hour of sleep is therefore gained. The time was not chosen at random: the change takes place at night to minimize disruption to daily life, particularly with regard to transport and professional activities. This is a time when few people are active, which limits the inconvenience. Most electronic devices (smartphones, computers, televisions) update automatically using the internet clock. However, be careful with mechanical clocks, watches, certain alarm clock radios or household appliances, you should remember to adjust them manually quickly to avoid being fooled.

What time is it exactly in France?

To help everyone find their way before and after the summer time change, we have integrated this module into our page from the specialized site WebHorloge.frwhich displays Paris time live. This clock displays the exact time, taking into account time changes.

Questions/Answers

12:36 – What tips to better adapt to the time change?

To better adapt to the time change, it is advisable to prepare in advance by gradually adjusting your sleep schedule, for example by going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier or later on the days preceding the change. Exposure to natural light first thing in the morning also helps readjust the biological clock. It is also important to maintain a balanced diet and avoid stimulants like caffeine late in the day to promote good sleep. Finally, engaging in relaxing activities before bed, such as reading or meditating, can ease the transition.

09:32 – How can you easily remember which way the time changes?

Are we going backwards or forwards? Every time the time changes, the question arises. There is, in fact, a very simple mnemonic which is based on the name of the month. In October, we go BACK while in March we move forward. At 3 a.m., it will only be 2 hours, enough to sleep for another hour.

08:15 – How to prepare your body for the time change?

To prevent the time change from disrupting your rhythm too much, it is advisable to start adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before. By gradually shifting your bedtime and getting up time by around fifteen minutes each day, you will allow your body to adapt more easily. Avoid screens before bed and expose yourself to natural light in the morning to help recalibrate your internal clock. A light evening diet and a calming routine can also ease the transition.

Learn more

The transition to winter time, with an hour of “gained” sleep, is often perceived as smoother than that to summer time. It allows our body to return to a more natural rhythm, where sunrise coincides more with waking up. Studies have shown that winter time is closer to the majority of people’s internal body clocks, which can contribute to better sleep quality and more restful rest.

The change from winter to summer time as we know it today was introduced by decree in 1975, following the oil crisis. It is then a question of establishing a summer time at GMT+2, i.e. two hours difference with natural time, from the following March. Objective: to better align natural lighting and human activities from spring onwards, to save energy.

The end of March is then chosen to coincide with the spring equinox, synonymous with the return of sunny days and longer days. The return to “normal” time (evening GMT+1) is logically set inversely as the autumn equinox approaches, i.e. at the end of October. The weekend and in particular the night from Saturday to Sunday will quickly appear to be the time when the immediate impact of the time change will be the most limited.

It was the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) which initiated the seasonal time change, as the government agency responsible for ensuring the optimization of the energy bill. In a summary of 2010the organization still estimated the savings made the previous year thanks to the time change at 440 GWh.

The time change was harmonized at European level in 1998 and is today applied by all EU member states and 70 countries in total. However, it has been highly controversial for years. Its detractors point above all to energy gains that are too limited, especially with the evolution of technologies and uses, as well as negative effects on health, sleep and road safety.

No, the winter time change is not the last. In March 2019, after consultation, the European Parliament adopted a majority project to end the time change, but it will not be implemented for several years. The said draft directive provided for the abolition of rapid time change: to do this, each Member State had to decide between remaining on winter time or remaining on summer time. The European Parliament had also called for coordination between the Member States and the European Commission so that the application of permanent hours (winter and summer) in the different countries does not disrupt the functioning of the internal market.

The directive was to be adopted by the Council at the end of 2020, then transposed by the member states, underlines the official Vie Publique website. However, because of the health crisis linked to Covid-19, Brexit, then the upheavals caused by the war in Ukraine, without forgetting the hesitations of European leaders, the text in question on the end of the time change is not no longer on the agenda “and should not be discussed in the near future”, concludes the French administration website. And once put back on the table, the debates should be long: “It is up to each Member State to decide on the legal time it wishes to adopt” confirmed the European Commission at Euronews in fall 2022.

If the majority of French people have expressed their weariness with the time change and their desire to put an end to it, the debate on the time zone to adopt remains open. According to the consultation carried out by the National Assembly in 2019, 59% of respondents expressed their preference for permanent summer time, which would allow them to benefit from longer bright evenings. However, some public health experts caution against this option, arguing that permanent DST could disrupt sleep cycles and have health consequences.

The summer time change system, the objective of which is to save energy, is very widespread in the countries of the northern hemisphere, but could disappear in the years to come. The cause, in particular, is the harmful effects on our health. In total, around 70 countries implement the time change around the world. The United States, Canada, part of Australia, Brazil and Morocco still practice the switch to summer time today.

You can find more infographics at Statista

What are the time zones in the European Union?

As stated on the official website of the European Council, “Member States have the option to choose the time zone in which they wish to be located”. Today, there are three. The first concerns Western Europe with Ireland and Portugal. The second, Central Europe which includes no less than 17 states. Finally, Eastern Europe made up of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.


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