Triangle post office mailboxes overflowing

The North Ridge Post Office, on Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh, had a back-up of cars in the parking lot throughout the morning.

“I’m thinking I should have been here last week, instead of three days before Christmas,” customer Sean Cabot said as he tried to stuff his letters into an overflowing mailbox.

In addition to normal holiday delays, officials said the winter weather that moved through the Triangle and northward over the weekend caused some delays in mail being moved to the processing center.

Officials said the mail should arrive at its destinations no more than a day late.

Officials at the U.S. Postal Service Distribution and Processing Center in Raleigh said they expected to process 1.3 million letters on Monday. Extra workers are also on duty to help with the busy holiday season.

"It’s almost like the rest of the year is a practice for this time of the year," said Carl Walton, of the USPS. "This is like our Super Bowl."

The U.S. Postal Service said Monday is the last day people can mail an item first-class or priority and have it arrive by Christmas Day. The express mail cutoff date for Christmas delivery is Wednesday.