After the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the greater New Haven area on Sunday, the University and the city of New Haven began to prepare for an estimated five to eight inches of snow over Sunday night and Monday morning.

In a campuswide Yale Alert sent Sunday afternoon, the Yale community was informed that snow is expected to start falling between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. — with the heaviest snow between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

“Please plan accordingly during the morning commute as travel may be difficult. As always, please use caution when traveling to and around campus,” the Yale Alert read.

Many major buildings and school campuses — including all New Haven Public Schools — across the state have announced closures and delayed openings due to the weather. Classes before 10 a.m. have been cancelled at the University of Connecticut’s regional campuses and law school.

The city of New Haven has put into effect a parking ban that will begin on Sunday at 11 p.m. and continue though Monday.

During the ban, parking on the odd side of residential streets is prohibited. As an alternative to using street parking, several garages will open for city residents to use during the storm. Temple Street Garage and Crown Street will be open from 8 p.m. Sunday until 8 p.m. Monday for a fee of $3.

“Parking bans are enacted and enforced to ensure access to city streets for snow removal operations,” mayoral spokesman Laurence Grotheer told the News on Sunday. “Prompt, effective snow removal is necessary for emergency and public safety operations and also to minimize storm related disruption.”

Grotheer added that the Public Works Department and Department of Parks and Recreation began treating roads and starting snow operations at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Ward 7 Alder Abigail Roth ’90 LAW ’94 similarly notified her ward community of the expected storm. “Thanks so much in advance for shoveling sidewalks once the storm ends, and around fire hydrants,” Roth wrote. “And please do help neighbors who perhaps cannot shovel if you can.”

Ward 7 includes Yale’s Rosenfeld Hall.

Sammy Westfall | sammy.westfall@yale.edu