Longer days are coming faster. Here’s when these 6 SC cities will have 8 p.m. sunsets
Daylight saving time may have already happened, but there’s still much more sunlight to gain in the coming weeks.
Most Americans set their clocks forward one hour on Sunday for daylight saving time. According to timeanddate.com, South Carolina is already enjoying more than 11 hours and 45 minutes of daylight after the time change and will gain about 2 minutes and 6 seconds of sunlight each day during March.
So between the time change and the end of March, the state will have gained an additional hour and 20 minutes of sunlight, for a total of over 12 hours and 31 minutes for the month.
But even that rapid increase won’t be enough to push cities in South Carolina into 8 p.m. sunsets.
Here’s when these major South Carolina cities will experience 8 p.m. sunsets this year, according to timeanddate.com:
- Columbia: April 21
- Greenville: April 13
- Charleston: April 29
- Myrtle Beach: May 3
- Hilton Head: April 26
- Spartanburg: April 15
Why does daylight increase so much in March?
March has the fastest gains in daylight of any month the closer we get to and pass the spring equinox, which is when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the northern hemisphere tilts more often toward the sun. The northern and southern hemispheres receive about the same amount of sunlight on the spring equinox. After the equinox, the northern hemisphere moves into spring and summer.
Adjusting to daylight saving
Having extra sunlight is small comfort for those struggling to recover from the time change. According to UAB Medical West, it can take the human body up to a week or more to adjust.
“If you are getting 7 to 8 hours of sound sleep and go to bed a little early the night before, you may wake up feeling refreshed,” UAB states. “If you are sleep-deprived already, getting by on six hours, you’re probably in a bit of trouble, especially if you consume alcohol or caffeine close to bedtime.”
Here are some tips for dealing with the time change:
Keep your schedule
Try to manage your schedule and keep things as close to normal as possible. Be consistent with eating, social, bed, and exercise times.
Have a nighttime ritual
Make a habit of slowing your body down before bedtime. Dim the lights, take a warm — not hot — shower, and put your phone or computer away. Try turning off the television and instead reading a non-suspenseful book.
No long naps
Shutting your eyes mid-day for a long nap could backfire. Such long naps may make it harder for you to get a full night’s sleep. Instead of napping, try stepping into the sun to stimulate your body and help retrain your inner clock.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
