Pittsburgh sunset hits 5:16 p.m. as clocks fall back Sunday
The biannual time change returns darker evenings this week, occurring despite a federal push to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.
By Nathan Reed ·
Pittsburgh residents will experience earlier sunsets starting this Sunday when clocks fall back at 2 a.m. The National Weather Service reports that darkness will arrive at 5:16 p.m. on November 1, marking a shift toward the shorter days of winter.
Meteorologist Andrew Kienzle noted that the region is approaching the period when sunsets occur near 5 p.m. by mid-November. He said the earlier arrival of night will provide more morning light for commuters heading into the city.
The time change happens while President Donald Trump pressures lawmakers to finalize a bill ending the twice-yearly switch. The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House of Representatives in July but has not yet cleared the Senate by the November 1 target the president set.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 19 states have already enacted permanent Daylight Saving Time. Pennsylvania has its own legislative efforts to adopt the same standard. House Bill 119 was introduced last year and currently sits in the Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations committee.
State senators approved Resolution 46 in June 2025, calling for a consistent year-round time. The resolution seeks to eliminate transitions between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time, though Congressional approval is still required for any state-level change to take effect.
The next adjustment occurs when clocks spring forward on March 14, 2027. Until then, the region will operate on Standard Time, bringing lighter mornings and darker evenings to the Pittsburgh area.
