Gaining Daylight in February, And When the Time Change Arrives

GraniteCityGossip.com February 1, 2026

February brings a noticeable shift toward longer days in our region. Sunrise comes a little earlier, sunset comes a little later, and by the end of the month the metro east area gains about one full hour of natural daylight, and all before the clocks change.

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when clocks “spring forward” one hour. That shift doesn’t create more daylight, but it moves an hour of light from the morning to the evening, making sunsets suddenly feel much later.

The idea of ending the twice‑a‑year clock change continues to circulate in Congress. Several proposals have aimed to make daylight saving time permanent, but none have passed, so the current system remains in place for now.