Central Standard and Daylight Time
The differences between time zones to each other are always specified in relation to the "Universal Time Coordinated" (UTC)the time on the prime meridian (zero longitude). Phoenixfor exampleis on the 122nd degree of longitude west and thus in the UTC-7 time zone. Central Standard Time is consistent with UTC -6.Central Time is between Mountain Time (UTC-7) and Eastern Time (UTC -5).
Countries with the Central Standard Timein which a switch to daylight savings time is commonturn the clock forward by one hour in summer. By doing sothey switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT) and reach UTC -5.
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Current Central Standard Time:
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WednesdayApril 012026
Geographical Distribution
Central Standard Time is used in several regions of North and Central America. Unusuallythe boundaries of this time zone within the Americas are not always based on state or national boundaries as in other countries. In the United Statesthe time zone covers a large portion of the interior states. The states of AlabamaArkansasIllinoisIowaLouisianaMinnesotaMississippiMissouriOklahoma and Wisconsin are each completely in the CST. Nearly complete also KansasNorth Dakotaand Texas. From FloridaIndianaKentuckyNebraskaSouth Dakota and Tennessee are only smaller sections.In CanadaCentral Standard Time is used in some areas of ManitobaOntarioNunavutand a small part of Saskatchewan. South of the U.S.it is used in large parts of eastern Mexico and the complete countries of BelizeCosta RicaEl SalvadorGuatemalaHondurasand Nicaraguarespectively.
Changeover to Central Daylight Time (UTC -5)
Daylight Time – sometimes called summer time – is used during the summer months to allow for longer daylight hours during the evening. This adjustment is usually made on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. Not everywhere is changing to daylight saving time. Within the U.S.all states dobut in Mexico only the northern regions around Tijuana do. In CanadaSaskatchewan also does not switch to daylight saving time. In the remaining countries of Central Americadaylight saving time is not used at all.Countries in Central Standard Time
CST time applies to the following countries:| Country | Region | Standardtime | DST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | countrywide | CST | none |
| Canada | Resolute | CST | CDT |
| Costa Rica | countrywide | CST | none |
| El Salvador | countrywide | CST | none |
| Guatemala | countrywide | CST | none |
| Honduras | countrywide | CST | none |
| Mexico | Mexico City | CST | none |
| Nicaragua | countrywide | CST | none |
| United States of America | Illinois | CST | CDT |
Further Countries in the same timezone of UTC -6
Although the timezone is named "Central Standard Time"it is mostly for politcal reasons. It simply means thate.g.the beginning and ending of daylight savings time always apply here uniformly. There are some other countriesin which the clock strikes the same hour. These countries have the same temporal distance to UTC (Universal Time Coordinated).| Country | Region | Time zone |
|---|---|---|
| Chile | Easter Islands | Easter Island Standard Time (EAST) |
| Ecuador | Galapagos Islands | Galapagos Time (GALT) |