Western European Time
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Western European Time (WET) is a time zone corresponding to UTC±00:00, meaning it does not differ from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It is the westernmost time zone of the European continent and is used during the winter period.
Most countries using WET switch to Western European Summer Time (WEST), which is UTC+01:00, during the summer months. This change is known as daylight saving time, in which the clock is advanced by one hour to extend daylight hours during the day.
Countries using WET
The most well-known countries using WET are Portugal (excluding the Azores islands, which are one hour behind), Ireland, and the United Kingdom (where the local time is called Greenwich Mean Time). Parts of North Africa, including Morocco, also use an equivalent time zone, although its clock system has changed frequently.
Relationship to Greenwich Mean Time
WET is based on the Greenwich meridian, which is at 0 degrees longitude and passes through Greenwich in London. Historically, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was the standard reference for world time before UTC was adopted. Today, UTC is scientifically measured using atomic clocks, while GMT is largely a historical and local designation.
Seasonal change
European Union countries using WET change their clocks according to European Union law: on the last Sunday of March the clock is advanced by one hour, and on the last Sunday of October it is set back. The change occurs at the same moment in UTC across all time zones in the Union.