February Now Bringing a Big Sun Boost to Rochester, MN
Rochester is finally shaking off winter’s darkest days, and the sun is making a noticeable comeback. You won't believe how much daylight we've gained since the winter solstice in December, and the sky will stay brighter even longer over the next few weeks.
There's a feeling many Minnesotans get during the first few weeks of February. Many of us don't want to say such a thing out loud, for fear of angering Old Man Winter, but it's a feeling that maybe, just maybe, the worst of winter is in the rearview mirror.
Is the Worst of Winter Over in Rochester?
While we don't know for sure if Mother Nature is planning more cold temperatures or snowstorms that dump several inches of snow on us yet this winter, we *do* know that the amount of sunshine each day is already increasing, making it seem a little more like spring.
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And yes, Rochester and all of Minnesota has aleady gained a lot of sunshine so far this year. Since the winter solstice back on December 21, Rochester has gained about 76 more minutes of sunlight each day, according to data from sunrise-sunset.org.
How Much Daylight Has Rochester, MN Gained Since the Winter Solstice?
And that trend will continue, with the Land of 10,000 Lakes set to gain about another 54 minutes of sunlight between February 9 and February 28. Which means, by the time March rolls in, Rochester will be enjoying roughly two extra hours of daylight compared to the darkest days of December.
And March, of course, also means that we'll spring ahead and get even MORE sunlight each day. Daylight Saving Time is set to start in early March, and while we lose an hour of sleep as the clock springs forward, we also gain more minutes of daylight.
When Does Daylight Saving Time 2026 Begin in Minnesota?
We'll 'fall back' again this November (when we get that hour of sleep back), just as we have every year since 1918, when Congress first adopted the Standard Time Act, which created Daylight Saving Time. Time And Date has this year's details:
Daylight Saving Time officially begins in Minnesota at 2:00:00 am on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when clocks move ahead one hour. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 8, 2026 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening and less light in the morning.
We'll remain on Daylight Saving Time until Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00:00 am, when clocks are turned backward one hour, and we revert to Daylight Standard Time, which will complete the 108th year we've made such a change.
Meanwhile, speaking of changes, keep scrolling to see how some familiar corporate logos have changed over the years, as well-- and see how many you can identify.
