But the question likely intends: what is the maximum possible local UTC offset (in hours) between two zones that allows synchronization — but it's not a value.

February 22, 2026

But the question likely intends: what is the **maximum possible local UTC offset** (in hours) between two zones that allows synchronization — but it's not a value.

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But that’s always 0 at sync — no.
Correct interpretation: The cartographer is measuring local time at a site (UTC±n) and wants to sync with a reference UTC clock. The **maximum possible time delay** between local clock and UTC, when sync is possible, is limited by the 15-minute window. But the **maximum possible local UTC time reading** for a given local clock is not fixed.
Final decision: The **difference in local UTC times** between two synchronously aligned systems is up to a fixed offset, but the **maximum possible** such difference (in magnitude) is **8 hours**, but only if within sync window. Since 8 > 15, sync at exact opposite offsets is impossible.
After analysis, the most plausible intended question is: what is the **largest possible time zone difference** (in hours) between two synchronized locations, given the clocks must be within 15 minutes of each other?
Answer: 15 hours — but not possible.
But with current offset UTC+3 and UTC−5, difference is 8 hours — too large.

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