Are you constantly confused by time zone abbreviations? Do you find yourself caught in the middle of a never-ending battle between PST and MST? Well, get ready to settle the score once and for all!
PST is UTC-8 hours and observed in regions like the western United States, while MST is UTC-7 hours and observed in areas like the Rocky Mountain states and parts of western Canada.
PST vs. MST
| PST (Pacific Standard Time) | MST (Mountain Standard Time) |
|---|---|
| PST is the time zone observed in the Pacific Time Zone. It is 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-8). | MST is the time zone observed in the Mountain Time Zone. It is 7 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-7). |
| It is used in regions on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, such as California, Washington, and British Columbia. It extends to various countries in the Pacific Time Zone. | It is observed in regions in the western part of North America, including areas in the western United States and Canada, such as Arizona, Colorado, and parts of Canada. |
| PST does not observe daylight saving time, so the time remains constant throughout the year without any adjustments to the clocks. | MST also observes daylight saving time, shifting the clocks forward by one hour during the warmer months to extend daylight hours. During this period, it follows Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). |
| It is 1 hour ahead of PST when daylight saving time is in effect. For example, 12:00 PM PST is 1:00 PM MDT. | It observes standard time (not daylight saving time), the time difference between PST and MST is 1 hour. For example, 12:00 PM PST is 1:00 PM MST. |
| PST is used in regions that do not participate in daylight saving time or have opted out of the practice. It is the standard time used in these regions throughout the year. | MST is used in regions that observe daylight saving time to make better use of daylight during the longer days of spring, summer, and early fall. The clocks are set forward to extend daylight hours. |
| Some notable cities in the PST time zone include Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vancouver. | Some notable cities in the MST time zone include Denver, Phoenix, and Calgary. |
Overview of PST and MST Time Zones
The Pacific Standard Time (PST) zone covers the states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone includes the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Though both time zones are in the continental United States, they are often considered rivals.
PST is typically one hour behind MST. However, during Daylight Saving Time (DST), PST is only two hours behind MST. DST is a practice where clocks are moved forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the fall in order to make better use of natural daylight. Not all states observe DST; Arizona and Hawaii do not change their clocks for DST.
Similarities between PST and MST
For starters, both PST and MST are in the Pacific Time Zone. This means that they share the same hour all year long. Additionally, both PST and MST observe Daylight Saving Time. This means that during the summer months, the clocks in both PST and MST are moved forward one hour.
Both PST and MST are in the Mountain Time Zone during the winter months. This means that when it is winter in PST, it is also winter in MST.
How to calculate the time difference between PST and MST
When it comes to time zones, there is a rivalry between PST and MST. Both are in the same general area, but they are different enough that people often get confused about which one is which. Here is a quick guide to help you calculate the time difference between PST and MST.
PST is GMT -8 while MST is GMT -7. This means that when it is noon in PST, it is 1 pm in MST. The time difference between PST and MST can be calculated by subtracting 8 from 7, which equals 1 hour. So, if you want to know what time it is in MST when it is 5 pm in PST, you would subtract 1 hour from 5 pm to get 4 pm.
Benefits of knowing the time zone difference
Knowing the time zone difference can also help you avoid jet lag. If you’re traveling east, you’ll want to gradually adjust your sleep schedule so you’re not trying to sleep when it’s daytime at your destination. Conversely, if you’re traveling west, you’ll want to stay up later than usual a few nights before your trip so you can ease into the new time zone.
Knowing the time zone difference can help you stay connected with friends and family who live in different time zones. If it’s 8:00 pm PST and you want to video chat with your cousin who lives in MST, you’ll need to wait until 10:00 pm MST (which is 8:00 pm PST).
Key differences between PST and MST
- PST is used in regions primarily located on the west coast of North America, including states such as California, Washington, and Oregon, and certain areas of Canada. While MST is observed in regions located in the Rocky Mountain states of the United States, such as Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of western Canada.
- PST is UTC-8 hours, meaning it is 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). While MST is UTC-7 hours, meaning it is 7 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
- PST is predominantly used in the western states of the United States and some regions of Canada’s western provinces. While MST is commonly used in the Rocky Mountain states of the United States and some parts of western Canada.
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Conclusion
While there are some regional differences between Pacific Standard Time and Mountain Standard Time, most of us live in one or the other. Understanding the semantics of time zones is important when you need to coordinate with others who may be living in a different time zone. By recognizing how PST and MST compare to each other, we can create better dialogues where everybody has an understanding of the clock.
