It’s the time of year in Michigan and Wisconsin when the snow flies often and starts to pile up. This winter is proving no exception.

With that in mind, the U.S. Postal Service is asking that residents make sure carriers can safely deliver mail during the winter — including The Daily News — by clearing ice and snow from their mailboxes and routes to their homes or businesses.

Those receiving door deliveries should shovel or otherwise remove snow on sidewalks, stairs and porches. Customers with curbside delivery should clear any snow piles plows may have caused. Mailboxes should be accessible and free of ice or snow.

“Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow,” said Diane Ingland, Michigan 2 District manager. “Maintaining a clear path to the mailbox — including steps, porches, walkways and street approach — will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service.”

Mail and deliveries may be curtailed if letter carriers cannot reach the mailboxes or homes safely, the USPS advises, though Ingland added that curtailing is considered a last resort for the USPS and any curtailed deliveries will be attempted the next day.

Any residents or businesses with blue collection boxes near their property are also asked to keep them clear of ice or snow. These boxes allow residents to send mail and carriers to collect mail for deliveries.

Ultimately, the USPS’s emphasis on clearing snow is to protect carriers’ safety while delivering after wintry conditions, Ingland said.

“We want our letter carriers to be safe,” Ingland said. “We can only do this with the help of our customers.”