Time Zone History

St. John’s time zone history

Its standard time, UTC−3:30, is one of only 14 offsets among the 312 zones that are not a whole number of hours from UTC. Its seasonal clock changes since 1970 include moves of 2 hours, not the usual hour. The record holds 5 different UTC offsets, the second-most of the 20 zones in Canada.

UTC−3:30

Standard time is UTC−3:30 (NDT/NST); clocks go forward to UTC−2:30 on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.

Covers: Newfoundland and southeast Labrador · tz database name America/St_Johns

Convert a time from St. John’s

Summer time in every year since 1970

UTC−3:30:52: 1 minute behind today’s standard timeUTC−3:30: today’s standard timeUTC−2:30:52, UTC−2:30: ahead of today’s standard timeUTC−1:30: 2 hours ahead of today’s standard timeUTC−3:30:52: 1 minute behindtoday’s standard timeUTC−3:30: today’s standard timeUTC−2:30:52, UTC−2:30: ahead oftoday’s standard timeUTC−1:30: 2 hours ahead of today’sstandard time

How to read this chart

Before 1970

18801900192019401960188019201960
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1970198019902000201020202028JFMAMJJASOND1970198019902000201020202028

Standard time changes

DateChangeNew standard timeClock label
Before 1970
January 1, 1884Local mean time (UTC−3:30:52) replacedUTC−3:30:52NST
March 30, 1935Standard time forward 1 minuteUTC−3:30NST

Daylight saving periods

YearsClocks go forwardClocks go backShift and labels
Before 1970
1917April 8September 171 hour, NST to NDT
1918April 14October 271 hour, NST to NDT
1919May 5August 121 hour, NST to NDT
1920–1935first Sunday in May, 23:00last Sunday in October, 23:001 hour, NST to NDT
1936–1938second Monday in May, 00:00first Monday in October, 00:001 hour, NST to NDT
1939May 15October 21 hour, NST to NDT
1940–1941second Monday in May, 00:00first Monday in October, 00:001 hour, NST to NDT
1942May 11not that year1 hour, NST to NWT
1945not that yearSeptember 301 hour
1946–1949second Sunday in May, 02:00first Sunday in October, 02:001 hour, NST to NDT
1950May 14October 81 hour, NST to NDT
1951–1959last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, NST to NDT
1960–1986last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in October, 02:001 hour, NST to NDT
Since 1970
1987April 5October 251 hour, NST to NDT
1988April 3October 302 hours, NST to NDDT
1989–2006first Sunday in April, 00:01last Sunday in October, 00:011 hour, NST to NDT
2007–2037second Sunday in March, 00:01first Sunday in November, 00:011 hour, NST to NDT

Clock changes in 2026, 2027 and 2028

The clocks go forward 1 hour (NST to NDT) on March 8, 2026, March 14, 2027 and March 12, 2028 at 02:00 and back 1 hour (NDT to NST) on November 1, 2026, November 7, 2027 and November 5, 2028 at 02:00, local time.

Clocks next door since 1970

  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon (279 km): usually 30 minutes ahead; different on 5,271 days in 1970–2026.
  • Glace Bay (570 km): usually 30 minutes behind; different on 587 days in 1970–2026.
  • Goose Bay (841 km): usually 30 minutes behind; different on 2 days in 1970–2026.
  • Halifax (899 km): usually 30 minutes behind; different on 216 days in 1970–2026.
  • Moncton (931 km): usually 30 minutes behind; different on 396 days in 1970–2026.

How it compares

Standard time has stayed at UTC−3:30 since 1935.