The Key is the documentation of 'utc' The "localtime" modifier (12) assumes the time string to its left is in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) and adjusts the time string so that it displays localtime. If "localtime" follows a time that is not UTC, then the behavior is undefined. The "utc" modifier is the opposite of "localtime". "utc" assumes that the string to its left is in the local timezone and adjusts that string to be in UTC. If the prior string is not in localtime, then the result of "utc" is undefined. So, etc says that the time provide is presumed to be in local time, and will be adjusted to utc, and if it isn't the results are undefined.