What is the Central Standard Time (CST)?

Central Standard Time (CST) is the time zone central to the contiguous United States, extending from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west. Its local time is called Central Daylight Time (CDT) during summer months. CST is also known as the Central Time Zone and is in full effect most of the year in Mexico.

In the United States, the CST is commonly used to refer to the Central Time Zone, which is used by five states: Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Alabama. By using the Central Standard Time zone, we can gauge the time zone of the cities within these states by adding or subtracting the appropriate amount of hours from the CST. In most cases, the CST is the time for the affected state and all other states neighboring it.

Daylight Savings Time and CST

When Daylight Savings Time (DST) is in full effect, CST is transformed into Central Daylight Time, CDT. The CDT time zone is one hour ahead of the standard CST time zone for a total of six months out of the entire calendar year. This ensures the areas within CST have adequate light from the sun during their summer season.

Central Standard Time is observed in North America, some Central American countries like, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, and Mexico. In the summer months, CST is observed as Central Daylight Time (CDT) in Mexico. In Mexico, the following states observe CST as an in-full year round: Michoaca, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Jalisco, Nayarit, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas. On the other hand, Mexico follows Daylight Savings Time in 4 states located in the northern part of the country: Sonora, Chihuahua Coahuila, and Durango from April and ends on October, returning to CST in November.

How to Know the Time Zone?

The easiest way to determine which time zone you are in is to visit the time zone finder, and type in the entire address of the location of the time you would like to know. The time zone finder will quickly give you your desired time zone, be it CT, MT, ET, or any other.

Conclusion

Central Standard Time (CST) is the time zone central to the contiguous United States, extending from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west. The timezone finds a place in the United States in five states- Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Alabama. When Daylight Savings Time (DST) is in full effect, CST is transformed into Central Daylight Time (CDT). CST is also used in North America, some Central American countries like, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, and Mexico, where states like Michoacán, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, Estado de México, Morelos, Puebla, Jalisco, Nayarit, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas observe CST all-year-round, while the other four states observe Daylight Savings Time in the summer season. The easiest way to determine which time zone you are in is to visit the time zone finder, and type in the entire address of the location of the time you would like to know.