Americans who use the United States Postal Service (USPS) will need to plan and send their shipments in advance, as the company itself has warned of possible delays in shipping and delivery. This warning is in response to the cold snap, which can affect mail transportation and delivery, especially following the floods that have occurred in the Pacific Northwest. For this reason, some post offices have been forced to close, as was the case in Sumas, Washington. Some of the states affected by this Postal Service warning include New Jersey, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, among others.
Delays in Christmas deliveries
Due to adverse weather conditions (especially cold snaps) affecting many states in the United States, the Postal Service (USPS) has warned users of possible delays in shipping and deliveries. Therefore, Americans are advised to plan and send their packages in advance. According to USPS officials, first-class mail should be sent before December 7 if it is intended to arrive in time for Christmas. December 18 is the deadline for all Priority Mail services, and those opting for Priority Mail Express have until December 20 as the final deadline.
Affected states
US Postal Service officials have listed a number of states that could experience mail disruptions mainly as a result of wintry and wet weather. Find out if your state is affected:
Winter weather disruption:
- Montana.
- North Dakota.
- South Dakota.
- Minnesota.
- Wisconsin.
- Iowa.
- Illinois.
- Indiana.
- Kentucky.
- Ohio.
- Virginia.
- West Virginia.
- Michigan.
- Pennsylvania.
- Massachusetts.
- Maryland.
- District of Columbia.
- New York.
- New Jersey.
- Vermont.
- Connecticut.
- Rhode Island.
- New Hampshire.
- Maine.
Flooding disruption:
- Washington.
Office closure
The USPS is asking customers to have their identification ready at the time of mail and package delivery to speed up the process. Among the affected states, notable are the 360 zip codes in Montana, around 600 in Maryland, and 1,800 in Pennsylvania. Additionally, due to flooding, the Stehekin post office, located in the 98852-9801 zip code area, has had to close its doors, so the Chelan office, located about 80 miles away, is accepting mail.
Another office affected by the weather conditions has been the Washington office, which has also closed due to flooding and has no scheduled reopening date. Another office that has also closed is the Snoqualmie office in Washington, affecting residents in the 98065-0316 zip code area, although the reason for the closure is unknown.
Frequently asked questions
What are the deadlines for gifts to arrive by Christmas?
- December 7: First-Class Mail.
- December 18: Priority Mail.
- December 20: Priority Mail Express.
Which states are at highest risk for delays?
Mainly those in the Northeast (NY, NJ, PA), the Midwest (IL, OH, MI), and the state of Washington, due to winter storms and flooding.
What steps should I take to receive my packages?
It is recommended to send them in advance and always have your ID ready at the time of delivery to speed up the service.