Washington Afternoons Darken as Sunsets Hit 4 p.m.

Sunsets in Washington state will fall before 5 p.m. starting this weekend, marking the beginning of the season's darkest months. The shift coincides with the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 1. Clocks will fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m., giving residents an extra hour of sleep but reducing the amount of daylight after work.

On Nov. 1, the sun will set around 4:51 p.m., with the last light fading around 5:23 p.m. Sunset times will continue to move earlier as the month progresses. By early December, the sun will dip below the horizon at approximately 4:17 p.m. on some evenings.

The return of daylight saving time is scheduled for March 14, 2027. Until then, residents must adjust to shorter afternoons. The sun will not set after 5:00 p.m. again until late January. It will not set after 6:00 p.m. until early March.

Data for these times comes from sunrise-sunset.org. The earlier sunsets align with the arrival of colder weather in the region. This period, often referred to as the big dark, brings a noticeable change in daily routines for many Washingtonians.