Daylight Saving Time Ends: When Does The Sun Set Sunday in Seattle?

WASHINGTON — “The Big Dark” is gaining ground with the end of daylight saving time: Sunset in Seattle is at 4:44 pm Sunday, and sunrise Monday is at 7:02 am Rain is here to stay, and there may be a few snowflakes falling soon.

Even though state lawmakers overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation in 2019 to keep the Evergreen State on daylight saving time year-round, the bill cannot take effect until changes are implemented on the federal level.

Seattle also sheds sunshine faster than most other cities this time of year, losing a few minutes each day, while frequent cloud cover keeps things dim in the daylight hours. While fall took its time to settle this year, the greater Seattle area is already getting a taste of what lies ahead.

Here are a few dates to keep in mind:

• Nov 6 (Daylight saving time ends)
  • Day length: 9 hours, 42 minutes
• Nov 24 (Thanksgiving)
  • Day length: 8 hours, 46 minutes
• Dec 21 (winter solstice)
  • Day length: 8 hours, 25 minutes
• Jan 26, 2023
  • Sunset: 5:01 p.m
  • Day length: 9 hours, 18 minutes
• March 5, 2023
  • Sunset: 6 p.m
  • Day length: 11 hours, 17 minutes
• March 12, 2023 (Daylight saving time begins)
• Sunset: 7:10pm
• Day length: 11 hours, 42 minutes

Both sunrise and sunset are busy times for deer. It’s when they go to their favorite watering holes, creating hazards on roads they share with people commuting to and from work.

November is even more precarious. It’s the season of “rut” for deer. In other words, it’s mating season and a fairly frantic time for deer, which are so fixed on continuing their species that they may run right into your car, SUV or truck. The season is called “the rut” because it’s the time of year male deer thrust their antlers together until one of them gives up and dies.

Tom Langen, a professor of biology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, wrote for The Conversation that collisions with deer are about eight times more frequent at dusk or dawn — when the deer are most active and motorists’ ability to spot them is poorest — than during daylight hours. In fact, only about a fifth of deer-vehicle collisions occur during daylight hours.

Motorists should also be aware during full moons — the next one is the full beaver moon on Nov. 19 — at the time of night when the moon is brightest. During those hours, deer move farther away from their nesting spots and are more likely to dart into traffic on the highway.

It’s not just male deer that make the highways dangerous in the fall. Elk and moose are mating as well.

There’s no shortage of wildlife in Washington, but fortunately, the Evergreen State ranks 44th in automobile-animal collisions, according to a State Farm insurance survey released earlier this fall.

Here are some tips to avoid hitting a deer:

• Slowly down, particularly at dusk and dawn.
• If you see one deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the road.
• Pay attention to deer crossing signs.
• Always buckle up — every trip, every time.
• Use your high beams to see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic.
• Don’t veer for deer. Brake if you can, but avoid swerving, which can result in a more severe crash.
• Stay focused on the road. Scan for potential dangers, including animals.
• Avoid distractions. Devices or eating might cause you to miss seeing an animal.
• Do not rely on products such as deer whistles. They are not proven effective.
• When riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear. Keep focused on the road ahead.

About 200 people die and 29,000 more are seriously injured every year in deer-automobile collisions, according to published research. Property damage exceeds $1 billion annually, with claims averaging around $2,600 per accident.

Every time the clock changes, it’s also a good idea to check your smoke detector batteries.

Sunday is the end of Daylight Savings Time! Renton Fire encourages our community to test their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The start and end of #DaylightSavingTime serves as an excellent reminder to check your batteries and test alarm units. #SmokeAlarmSavesLives pic.twitter.com/hloGXmprSo
— Renton Regional Fire Authority (@RentonRFA) November 4, 2022