Nova Scotia Timezone Guide
NOVA SCOTIA TIME ZONES:
• Standard Time: AST (Atlantic Standard Time)
• UTC Offset: UTC-4 (4 hours behind UTC)
• Daylight Time: ADT (Atlantic Daylight Time)
• UTC Offset: UTC-3 (3 hours behind UTC)
• DST Period: 2nd Sunday March - 1st Sunday November
Daylight Saving Time Schedule
2024 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME:
• Spring Forward: March 10, 2024 at 2:00 AM AST
• Fall Back: November 3, 2024 at 2:00 AM ADT
• Duration: 34 weeks of daylight saving time
• Clock Change: "Spring forward, fall back"
Time Comparisons
WHEN IT'S 12:00 PM IN NOVA SCOTIA (AST/ADT):
CANADIAN CITIES:
• St. John's, NL: 1:30 PM (NST/NDT)
• Toronto, ON: 11:00 AM (EST/EDT)
• Winnipeg, MB: 10:00 AM (CST/CDT)
• Calgary, AB: 9:00 AM (MST/MDT)
• Vancouver, BC: 8:00 AM (PST/PDT)
INTERNATIONAL CITIES:
• New York, NY: 11:00 AM (EST/EDT)
• London, UK: 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM (GMT/BST)
• Paris, France: 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM (CET/CEST)
• Sydney, Australia: 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM next day
• Tokyo, Japan: 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM next day
Business Hours & Travel
TYPICAL BUSINESS HOURS:
• Government Offices: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM AST/ADT
• Banks: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM AST/ADT
• Retail Stores: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM AST/ADT
• Restaurants: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM AST/ADT
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:
• Flight Times: Always check if departure/arrival in local time
• Hotel Check-in: Usually 3:00 PM AST/ADT
• Hotel Check-out: Usually 11:00 AM AST/ADT
• Tour Departures: Confirm time zone with operators
• Ferry Schedules: All times in Atlantic Time
Time Zone History
ATLANTIC TIME ZONE ADOPTION:
• 1902: Atlantic Time Zone established
• 1918: First daylight saving time implemented
• 1942-1945: Year-round daylight time during WWII
• 1966: Uniform Time Act standardized DST dates
• 2007: Current DST schedule adopted
Seasonal Daylight Hours
DAYLIGHT DURATION:
• Summer Solstice (June 21): ~15.5 hours of daylight
• Winter Solstice (December 21): ~8.5 hours of daylight
• Spring/Fall Equinox: ~12 hours of daylight
• Longest Day: Sunrise 5:30 AM, Sunset 9:00 PM
• Shortest Day: Sunrise 7:30 AM, Sunset 4:30 PM
Maritime Provinces Comparison
ALL MARITIME PROVINCES USE ATLANTIC TIME:
• Nova Scotia: AST/ADT
• New Brunswick: AST/ADT
• Prince Edward Island: AST/ADT
• Newfoundland: NST/NDT (30 minutes ahead)
Digital Clocks & Devices
TIMEZONE CODES:
• Standard Time: AST, Atlantic/-4, America/Halifax
• Daylight Time: ADT, Atlantic/-3, America/Halifax
• IANA Timezone: America/Halifax
• Windows Timezone: Atlantic Standard Time
• Phone Settings: Atlantic Time (Canada)
Planning Your Visit
ARRIVAL PLANNING: Set devices to Halifax time zone
MEETING TIMES: Confirm all appointments in Atlantic Time
RESERVATIONS: Double-check restaurant/tour times
TRANSPORTATION: Ferry and bus schedules in local time