Published: January 26, 2026
Winter Storm Fern is causing widespread shipping delays across the U.S., with heavy snow, ice, and dangerously cold temperatures impacting carrier operations from Texas to the Northeast. Here’s what you need to know about current delivery delays and how to keep your mail and packages moving.
UPS delays: UPS reports widespread service impacts across the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the South, with pickup and delivery services operating as conditions permit. Operations at the Louisville Worldport hub—UPS’s primary air facility—have also been disrupted. Even if your location isn’t directly affected, packages moving through the network may experience delays.
USPS delays: The Postal Service has issued alerts for nearly 40 states, warning of potential impacts to mail processing, transportation, and delivery. Affected regions include the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Northeast, Southwest, Southern Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. USPS has suspended its Priority Mail Express service guarantee and halted live cargo shipments until conditions improve.
FedEx delays: FedEx issued a national service disruption alert, warning that shipments with Monday delivery commitments may be delayed. While the carrier has deployed contingency plans at its Memphis and Indianapolis hubs, weather delays could continue throughout the week.
All major carriers have suspended their money-back guarantees for shipments affected by severe weather. Refund claims for late deliveries related to Winter Storm Fern won’t be honored, so keep that in mind before filing any claims.
Communicate with recipients. If you’re sending time-sensitive documents or packages to affected areas, reach out and let recipients know there may be delays. A quick heads-up prevents confusion and helps manage expectations.
Plan ahead for deadlines. If you have court filings, client documents, or other time-sensitive mailings, build in extra buffer time this week. Consider upgrading to a faster service level where possible, keeping in mind that even express services may experience delays.
Monitor carrier status pages. Conditions are changing quickly. Bookmark these links and check them regularly:
Skip the trip to the post office. With hazardous road conditions in many areas, now’s the time to print postage from home or the office. You can schedule a carrier pickup instead of venturing out.
Once the storm passes, expect residual backlogs as carriers work through delayed mail and packages. Recovery from winter storm shipping delays typically takes several days after operations resume, so factor that into your planning for the rest of the week.
We’ll continue monitoring the situation and update this post as conditions change. Stay safe out there.
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Delivery is made by the country's postal service in 3 - 5 business days, depending on the destination.
You can log into your app and visit your "history" page to view real-time tracking information for every item you send. You can also enter your tracking number on the UPS website to see tracking updates.
Drop off your shipment 24 hours a day, seven days a week at one of the 60,000 UPS dropoff locations across the United States. This includes UPS Stores, UPS Drop Boxes, CVS, Michaels, and Advanced Auto Parts.
No. DHL Express typically does not deliver on Sundays in most regions. However, Sunday delivery may be available in select areas or for time-definite international shipments with specific service upgrades. Check with DHL directly for regional availability.
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UPS 2nd Day Air guarantees delivery by the end of the second business day. For time-critical shipments, you can choose UPS 2nd Day Air A.M., which delivers by 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, or 2:00 PM (depending on destination) on the second business day.
UPS Standard generally delivers within 1 to 5 business days, with residential deliveries typically occurring between 9 AM and 9 PM. The exact delivery time depends on the distance the package travels and the specific destination.
UPS Ground tracking uses a system of scans to update customers on the location and status of their packages as they move through the UPS network. Each package is assigned a unique tracking number, and as it travels, it's scanned at various points, including when it's received, when it's transferred between facilities, and when it's out for delivery.
UPS Next Day Air offers guaranteed delivery by 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., or end of day on the next business day, depending on the destination and specific service selected. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday, with Saturday delivery available in select areas for an additional fee.
Nonmachinable envelopes might be non-rectangular, rigid, unevenly thick, or have non-paper closures, meaning they cannot be processed efficiently by USPS's automated sorting equipment, and require special handling, resulting in a surcharge in addition to the standard postage.
USPS Priority Mail generally delivers in 2-3 business days. First-Class Mail, while more economical, typically takes 1-5 business days for delivery.
UPS Worldwide Saver is faster than UPS Worldwide Expedited, offering delivery by the end of the next business day to major business centers, compared to 2-5 business days for Worldwide Expedited. Worldwide Saver provides a more economical alternative to premium express services while maintaining quick delivery.
USPS Ground Advantage delivery time is typically the slowest for domestic shipping services, taking two to five business days depending on the destination.
UPS Ground typically takes 1 to 5 business days for delivery with 90% of UPS® Ground packages being delivered in 3 days or less.
UPS Standard is generally faster than UPS Ground Saver, as it has a typical delivery window of 1-5 business days compared to Ground Saver's 2-7 business days.
UPS Next Day Air is significantly faster than UPS Second Day Air, delivering packages by the next business day, while UPS Second Day Air delivers within two business days. It's the fastest standard overnight service offered by UPS.
UPS Ground Saver is typically slower than UPS Standard, with delivery times ranging from 2-7 business days, whereas UPS Standard generally delivers within 1-5 business days.
UPS 3 Day Select is generally faster than UPS Ground Saver, offering guaranteed delivery within three business days, whereas Ground Saver can take 2-7 business days and has no guaranteed delivery time.
UPS 2nd Day Air is faster than UPS 3 Day Select, offering guaranteed delivery by the end of the second business day, while 3 Day Select provides guaranteed delivery by the end of the third business day.
USPS Priority Mail typically takes one to three business days, depending on destination, to deliver. You can easily check for a delivery time estimate on USPS’s Priority Mail Delivery Map.
UPS Worldwide Saver guarantees delivery by the end of the business day, one day faster than UPS Worldwide Expedited. This service connects major business centers in over 220 countries and territories with time-definite delivery and customs clearance included.
UPS Ground Saver typically delivers packages within 2 to 7 business days across the contiguous United States.
UPS 3 Day Select guarantees delivery by the end of the third business day after the package is picked up, with deliveries typically occurring Monday through Friday. It's a reliable option for shipments that aren't time-critical but need to arrive within a specific timeframe.
DHL Express is a premium international shipping service that offers fast, time-definite delivery to over 220 countries and territories. It's designed for urgent packages, with door-to-door tracking, customs support, and express delivery options for businesses and individuals.
Flat Rate Envelopes are ideal for documents or small, dense items weighing 4 lbs or less, as they offer a single price based on the destination country. For items between 4 lbs and 70 lbs, or those that don't fit into the Flat Rate Envelopes, you'll need to ship by weight using your own packaging. It’s more affordable to use Flat Rate boxes if your item is under 20 lbs.
First-Class Mail International®
Stamps.com gives you access to all mailing and shipping services from USPS, UPS, DHL, and other top carriers. Visit stamps.com/carriers for a full list.
Educational materials like books, music, or videos that never include any products or advertising.
Packages up to 15.999 ounces are priced in 4-ounce increments, while heavier packages are charged by the pound, rounded up. The further the distance, the higher the cost. Additional fees apply to oversized packages. Easily calculate discounted rates anytime at Stamps.com.
