Central Time Zone

This article is about the time zone in North America. For other time zones, see Central Time.

Central Time Zone
Time zone
  Central Time Zone
UTC offset
CSTUTC−06:00
CDTUTC−05:00
Current time
16:22, 21 November 2024 CST [refresh]
Observance of DST
DST is observed in some of this time zone.

The North American Central Time Zone (CT) is a time zone in parts of Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and some Caribbean islands.[1]

In parts of that zone (20 states in the US, three provinces or territories in Canada, and several border municipalities in Mexico), the Central Time Zone is affected by two time designations yearly: Central Standard Time (CST) is observed from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. It is six hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and designated internationally as UTC−6.[2] From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November the same areas observe daylight saving time (DST), creating the designation of Central Daylight Time (CDT) which is five hours behind UTC and known internationally as UTC−5.[3]

  1. ^ "Central Time – CT Time Zone". timeanddate.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "History of Time Zones and Daylight Saving Time (DST)". United States Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics. January 17, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Central Time (CST/CDT) | GMT". greenwichmeantime.com. Retrieved May 22, 2020.