Most residents of Cowlitz County will move their clocks forward one hour on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins across the United States. According to information published by timeanddate.com, DST starts at 2:00 a.m. local time, when clocks shift forward to 3:00 a.m., resulting in the usual loss of one hour of sleep.

The long‑established federal schedule places the start of DST on the second Sunday in March. For 2026, that date falls on March 8. The National Institute of Standards and Technology confirms the same timeline, noting that DST remains in effect until November 1, 2026, when clocks will shift back to standard time. That information is detailed on the agency’s official page at NIST’s Daylight Saving Time Rules.

Washington participates fully in the nationwide observance of daylight saving time. Unlike Hawaii and most of Arizona, which opt out under the Uniform Time Act, all counties in Washington — including Cowlitz — follow the standard U.S. schedule. That means local households and businesses from Longview to Kelso will experience the same one‑hour shift as the majority of the country.

For residents who track the timing each year, this year’s early‑March adjustment follows the pattern set by federal law in 2007, which extended the duration of DST. As confirmed by timeanddate.com’s 2026 change listings, the United States will stay on daylight time through early November, offering longer evening daylight throughout the spring and summer months.

Why this matters

The annual time shift affects daily routines across the region, from school start times to early‑morning commutes. Local officials have previously noted that the spring transition can introduce short‑term safety considerations, particularly during darker morning hours. The issue also remains part of a broader national conversation about whether the twice-yearly time change should continue, even as current federal law keeps the existing system in place for now.

Sources

timeanddate.com: DST 2026 Starts in the US
NIST: Daylight Saving Time Rules
timeanddate.com: Daylight Saving Time Changes 2026