Postal Service warns of mail delays as Erie County battles frigid weather
Winter conditions in Erie County and much of the region are forcing postal carriers to navigate hazardous conditions.
The U.S. Postal Service said safety remains its top priority as areas in and around Erie continue to recover from Winter Storm Fern, which brought heavy snow, high winds and hazardous travel conditions to parts of northwest Pennsylvania.
“Postal carriers will make every effort to deliver mail where it is safe to do so,” USPS spokesman Mark Wahl said in an email. “Customers should be aware that mail to and from eastern areas that were heavily impacted by the storm may take longer due to conditions in those areas.”
The U.S. Postal Service said mail may be delayed as areas in and around Erie continue to recover from Winter Storm Fern.
USPS did not say how many routes or customers in Erie County were affected.
No service alerts specific to Erie County have been issued by USPS. However, the Postal Service notes that the winter weather system is affecting delivery in several states, including Pennsylvania, and could impact the processing, transportation and delivery of mail and packages.
The USPS urged customers to keep aisles, aisles and access to mailboxes free of snow and ice to help carriers safely resume delivery.
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“We are asking customers to clear a path to their mailbox and porch so delivery can be made safely,” Wahl said.
The USPS posts service alerts for residential and business customers on its website at about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/, where readers can see the latest updates on delays and disruptions.
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Freezing temperatures are expected to continue in Erie through the weekend, with highs reaching just 8 degrees on Jan. 30, 11 degrees on Jan. 31 and 15 degrees on Feb. 1, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland. No additional snow accumulation is forecast for the weekend.
Contact AJ Rao at arao@gannett.com or 814-440-5080.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Snow and ice could delay mail delivery in Erie County, USPS says
