Are you expecting a package from UPS, but your local area is currently experiencing bad weather?
Whether you’re worried UPS won’t actually deliver by the promised time or you’re concerned about the package being left out in weather that may damage it, this is a common question.
In this article, I’ll be going over UPS’ policy regarding deliveries during bad weather, and how to make sure your package arrives as quickly as possible – without any weather damage whatsoever.
Let’s get to it!
Does UPS Deliver In The Rain And Snow?
Yes! UPS delivers in both the rain and the snow, provided they are able to safely get to your door.
While extreme weather conditions (like hurricanes or tornados) may prevent UPS from delivering, even heavy rain and snow usually isn’t a problem for UPS.
If you think about this, it makes sense. At any given time, enormous portions of the world are experiencing rain. At the same time, weather patterns can be very unpredictable.
Stopping or delaying deliveries every time it rains or snows would cause a lot of problems for UPS, especially since blizzards can last for weeks at a time.
So, UPS will make every reasonable attempt to deliver your package provided they can reach your address, and it is safe for them to do so.
How Weather Can Impact Your Delivery Time
Although bad weather typically won’t cause a package out for delivery to be delayed, extreme weather conditions can cause delays during other periods of the process.
Let’s quickly look over all of the different ways that weather can have an impact on UPS’ delivery times!
1. Bad Weather Can Cause Delays Getting It To Local Facilities
Unfortunately, it’s not just the weather in your local area that can cause a problem!
Packages from UPS travel very long distances before ending up in your local city. This means that weather events across the country can potentially cause delays with your package moving throughout UPS’ network.
Between icy roads making it difficult for UPS to deliver by ground, to weather delays leaving planes unable to leave the airport, this can cause additional delays at any point in the process.
Quite simply, this is something that UPS has no control over.
Thankfully, the algorithm UPS uses to give you an estimated delivery date is often able to take weather into account, so you may not notice the effects that poor weather conditions can cause when tracking your package!
2. Bad Weather Can Make Your Address Inaccessible
This one was mentioned earlier, but it’s important.
In order for UPS to be able to deliver your package, they actually have to be able to get to your door!
Extreme weather conditions like harsh wind or snow can cause trees to block roads, power lines to fall down, or simply make it impossible for UPS’ delivery trucks to make it to your driveway.
If this happens, UPS will be forced to try and redeliver when weather conditions have improved – or have you come and pick up the package instead.
This is common for couriers – USPS for example will leave a message stating that they have no access to the delivery location.
The same problem affects UPS, too!
3. Bad Weather Can Result In No Good Place To Leave Your Package
Although we’ve all heard stories about UPS treating packages poorly, these events are actually extremely rare.
Most UPS drivers actually have common decency, and care whether or not your package is actually safe. Not to mention, packages damaged by weather reflects poorly on UPS too, which is obviously something they want to avoid!
So, if bad weather has resulted in no safe place to leave your package, the driver may use their discretion and decide not to deliver it that day.
In this instance, they will usually leave a slip on the door with more information.
Will UPS Leave Your Packages Out In The Rain?
Yes, UPS will deliver and leave your package outside during the rain, if they are safely able to do so.
Although this may seem concerning, there is some good news!
First of all, UPS will try to leave your packages in an area that are covered, and protected from the elements.
This typically means underneath the covered area of your doorstep if one is available, or in a parcel drop box if you own one.
Secondly, UPS carries waterproof plastic bags they can wrap your package in, if it will be left out in the rain.
This will prevent water from soaking through the cardboard, potentially damaging your item – which is especially important for things like electronics!
Actually, UPS will bag items if the item is uncovered and they believe it’s going to rain, even if actually hasn’t started raining yet!
Of course, if you are particularly concerned, I will share some things to try out in just a moment!
How To Prevent Your UPS Package From Getting Damaged By Weather
So, what can you do to prevent your package from being damaged by the weather if UPS may leave it out?
Really, you have two options.
The first is to have the shipment redirected to a UPS store, or held for pickup. Then, you can be sure it is kept safe until you decide to go actually retrieve it yourself.
This can be done using UPS My Choice, which you can learn more about here. Note that if you aren’t a premium member, there is a $5.99 fee for having it redirected to a UPS store, or other UPS Access Point location.
The second option would be to request that the package require a signature, if the merchant you’re receiving the package from accepts this as a service. Many do, since it also gives them additional assurance that the product was actually received by the person who was meant to receive it.
That being said, UPS charges an additional fee for this, which ranges from $5.90 to $7.15 in 2022.
Conclusion
As long as it’s safe for them to do so, UPS will try to deliver your package – even during windstorms, blizzards, and heavy rainstorms. In fact, UPS will even deliver during thunder and lightning storms too!
However, dangerous weather conditions – like hurricanes or extreme ice may result in delays, to protect the driver’s safety.
I hope that this article has answered all of your questions, and your package gets delivered soon.
If you have any other questions about UPS, please ask them using the comment form below.
Thanks for reading, and wishing you the best!
– James McAllister