Northern Ireland is ready to embrace autumn as the clocks will change next weekend, marking the end of British Summer Time. At 02:00 BST on 27 October, clocks will move back one hour, allowing people an extra hour of sleep.
The change marks the beginning of shorter days and longer nights, leading up to winter solstice on 21 December, which is the shortest day of the year.
This practice of changing clocks has been followed for over a century to make better use of daylight during the winter months. Shifting an hour of sunlight to the morning aims to provide brighter mornings during the darker season. However, even though people gain an extra hour of sleep, this change can disrupt sleep patterns.
Autumn weather is already evident across Northern Ireland, with cooler temperatures ranging between 10°C and 14°C and frequent rain showers. October often brings more cloudy skies, frosty mornings, and occasional storms from the Atlantic.
The clock change will make mornings slightly brighter, but sunsets will be earlier, making evenings feel longer.
This transition period advises people to prepare for the colder months ahead.