A winter storm warning for heavy snow and severe weather conditions has been issued for the Champaign area until 6 p.m. tonight by the National Weather Service.

Seven inches of snow fell over night and the Champaign city staff began working at 8 p.m. Friday night to clear streets. The staff will work 12-hour shifts until the streets and sidewalks are clear.

According to a press release from the city of Champaign, the first focus is on plowing primary routes and then secondary routes. Primary routes include bus routes, school and hospital routes. Secondary routes include dead-ends and cul-de-sacs. In the press release, the public works staff asked city members to remove vehicles from the streets, to not blow snow on the mediana and to monitor the city web site for updates.

The emergency snow routes have not been activated at this time.