---
title: "Winter Storm Delivery Delays: UPS, USPS, and FedEx Updates"
url: "https://www.stamps.com/article/winter-storm-delivery-delays/"
type: "post"
modified: "2026-01-26T21:41:44+00:00"
---
*Published: January 26, 2026*

[Winter Storm Fern](https://weather.com/news/weather/news/2026-01-25-live-updates-january-25-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.

Current shipping delays by carrier
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**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.

Service guarantees suspended due to weather delays
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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](https://www.cep-research.com/2026/01/26/deep-freeze-hits-us-parcel-mail-deliveries/), so keep that in mind before filing any claims.

How to manage shipping delays
-----------------------------

**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:

- [UPS Service Alerts](https://www.ups.com/us/en/service-alerts)
- [FedEx Service Alerts](https://www.fedex.com/en-us/service-alerts.html)
- [USPS Service Alerts](https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/)

**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.

When will shipping delays clear?
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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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