On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse is expected to pass over parts of the United States, with some questioning whether the celestial event will have any impact on mail delivery services.
During the eclipse, the moon will be positioned so that the entire disc of the sun will be blocked in several states, plunging millions of people into darkness during the early afternoon. The path of totality will start in Mexico and extend across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading over the North Atlantic.
While many Americans are expected to head outside and watch the solar eclipse on Monday, some local officials have issued warnings as an increase in visitors to different states may place a strain on different hospitals, roadways and even stores.
Newsweek previously published a map showing where different local warnings have been issued. Texas' Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly recently issued a disaster declaration and said the increase in visitors to the state could "drain our food and fuel supplies and strain our city and county infrastructure to, quite possibly, over capacity."
Since the solar eclipse is not a federal holiday, mail delivery services like the United States Postal Service (USPS), the United Parcel Service (UPS) and FedEx are likely to have normal operating hours on Monday, April 8.
Monday is not listed on the USPS holiday calendar for 2024, so Americans can expect normal mail delivery services during the solar eclipse.
"We will have normal delivery and business as usual," a USPS spokesperson told Newsweek.
The solar eclipse date is also not listed on the holiday calendars for UPS and FedEx, meaning that regular delivery services should be expected from both as well.
"We expect operations to run normally on Monday, April 8," a FedEx spokesperson told Newsweek.
Newsweek has reached out to UPS via email for further comment.
In addition to Texas, a number of other states have also issued warnings ahead of the solar eclipse for residents, including New York, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma and Kentucky.
In New York, officials are urging residents and visitors to "plan to stay in one place for the day," as traffic was expected to be overwhelming. Similarly, the Missouri Department of Transportation published recommendations such as preparing for extra traffic, looking out for pedestrians while driving, and avoiding travel if possible.
Ahead of the solar eclipse, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) published a list on its website of the states the spectacle will pass over and specific times. Americans can use the list to make sure they can catch the solar eclipse at the correct time in their respective states.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
