With winter weather and the holiday season here, residents will want to think a little more right now about their business with the U.S. Postal Service.

Not only do people need to be mindful to keep the area around their mailboxes clear of snow, but they will also need to give themselves enough time to mail Christmas gifts to people far away, particularly if their loved ones are overseas, such as active military personnel.

As a press release from the U.S. Postal Service explains, “snow and ice create a challenge for mail carriers” as they try to make their deliveries. “That’s why the U.S. Postal Service is once again asking customers for their assistance by clearing snow and ice from walkways, driveways, porches and areas around the mailbox.”

Fewer obstacles mean faster service, too, when the Post Office gets busy during the Christmas season.

And it means a better holiday for postal workers.

“Slips, trips and falls continue to be the most frequent type of injury sustained by our carriers,” said Western N.Y. District Manager Jean Lovejoy. “And as winter conditions worsen, so do the number of accidents. By simply clearing the way, customers can help reduce the risk.”

Meanwhile, postal customers also do their part to ensure packages to loved ones reach them in time for the holidays by being cognizant of how many days deliveries take.

For packages to arrive before Christmas Day within the contiguous United States, items to be shipped USPS Retail Ground should go out by Dec. 14. For First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, that date is Dec. 20, and for Priority Mail Express, it’s Dec. 22.

Sending a package, card or letter to a friend or family member in the military can be a great way to ensure that person feels included in the holiday festivities.

The Postal Service suggests the following deadlines for such items:

• Items shipped now to Air/Army Post Office/Flee Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO) destinations via USPS Retail Ground will likely not reach their destination by Dec. 25.

• Dec. 4: APO/FPO/DPO (ZIP Code 093) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

• Dec. 11: APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

• Dec. 14: USPS Retail Ground (not APO/FPO/DPO)

• Dec. 18: APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Express

• Dec. 20: First-Class Mail (including greeting cards); First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces); Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail; Priority Mail; and Alaska to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

• Dec. 22: Alaska to mainland Priority Mail Express; Hawaii to mainland Priority Express; and Priority Mail Express

The dates are estimated by the U.S. Postal Service and not guaranteed. The agency gets very busy this time of year; the earlier packages go out, the more likely they are to reach their destinations on time.

In fact, the Postal Service estimates it will be delivering nearly 200 million packages each week during the two weeks before Christmas. It estimates it will deliver nearly 3 billion pieces of First-Class mail between Dec. 17-23.

For international deliveries that are not to military sites, the delivery date depends on where in the world items are being sent, with certain items needing to be in the mail as early as Dec. 1. A comprehensive list of suggested deadlines and other shipping tips, visit https://www.usps.com/holiday/