March

March is the month the clocks move and the permits end. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March, so the sun sets at 6:55 p.m. on the 15th, more than two hours later than on January 15. Two other things close on March 31: East Hampton Town’s recycling permit year and the bay scallop season. If you rely on either, see East Hampton’s permit rules before the month ends.

What closes on March 31

• Bay scallop season. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says bay scallops may be taken only from the first Monday in November through March 31. Other shellfish can be taken all year from areas open to shellfishing, and the DEC says to check with the local town for a recreational permit.
• East Hampton’s self-hauler permit. The Town’s application says the permit is valid from April 1 to March 31 and is not prorated, so a permit bought in March buys only the weeks that remain.

Weather

March keeps winter’s shape: an average high of 46°, a low of 30° and 6.0 inches of snow at Bridgehampton. It is also among the wetter months, at 4.9 inches.

The clock change

Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. In March the sunrise jumps an hour later on the clock, from 6:45 a.m. in mid-February to 7:03 a.m. in mid-March. Day length itself is 11 h 52 min on the 15th, close to the equinox.

If you live here

The April almanac covers the new permit year, and the winter rental season page explains how a Memorial Day end date shapes a winter lease.