As we move deeper into spring, one of the most striking seasonal changes isn’t just the weather — it’s how quickly the amount of daylight increases during the month of March. While clocks springing forward for daylight saving time on March 8, 2026 shifts when we experience that light, the real story is how much more sunshine each day adds as the month unfolds.
Daylight’s Big Monthly Jump
After the winter solstice in December, daylight gradually increases every day. But March is the point in the year when that gain becomes especially dramatic. Across many U.S. cities, the total amount of daylight added between March 1 and March 31 exceeds an hour — and in some northern locations, it’s well over 100 minutes.
For example:
- In New York City, the day length increases by about 81 minutes.
- Denver sees roughly 78 minutes more daylight.
- Seattle — farther north — gains over 103 minutes.
This variation reflects latitude differences: places closer to the poles experience larger swings in daylight throughout the year compared with those nearer the equator.
What Daylight Saving Time Really Does
When clocks move forward on March 8, that doesn’t create new daylight — it simply shifts one hour of morning light into the evening. Still, that shift makes evenings noticeably brighter and longer by the clock for months to come.
Stronger Sunlight, Not Just Longer Days
It’s not just about how long the sun stays above the horizon. By March, the sun’s path climbs higher in the sky compared with winter, delivering more intense sunlight during the day. That stronger solar angle helps melt snow faster and can make surfaces warm more quickly, even when the air feels cool.
This early season strength of sunlight also brings safety reminders: on sunny spring days, cars can heat up rapidly even if the outside temperature isn’t very high, creating potential hazards for children and pets left inside.
The Bigger Picture
March also includes the spring equinox around March 20, when day and night are nearly equal in length — a symbolic marker of spring’s arrival in the Northern Hemisphere.
All told, March’s burst of daylight is one of the most noticeable seasonal changes many people experience each year — and it’s a reminder of just how dynamic Earth’s relationship with the sun can be.
