As the weekend approaches, residents across Baldwin County are gearing up for the annual ritual of springing forward as Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins. On Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m., clocks will move forward by one hour, marking the official start of DST. This change marks the start of the annual tradition aimed at maximizing daylight during the evening hours.

Despite its widespread adoption, DST remains a topic of debate among lawmakers and citizens. Those in favor of the time chnage argue that DST promotes energy conservation and boosts outdoor recreational activities, while critics question its efficacy and cite disruptions to sleep patterns.

Here in Alabama, where the transition to DST is met with mixed sentiments, residents are reminded to set their clocks forward before heading to bed on Saturday night to avoid being late for appointments or work obligations. While most modern electronic devices automatically adjust to the time change, individuals are reminded to manually set clocks in vehicles, appliances and other non-automated devices.

Additionally, fire departments and safety officials encourage Baldwin Countians to use the biannual time change as a reminder to replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, ensuring continued safety in homes and businesses.

Daylight Saving Time will end on Sunday, Nov. 3, when clocks will fall back by one hour, returning to Standard Time (CST).