As Maine prepares for a white Christmas, communities and state agencies are bracing for winter weather that’s expected to blanket the state in at least 3 inches of snow, with up to a foot forecast in some places.

A low-pressure system will bring snow to Maine from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning. The highest totals are expected in the Midcoast, which could see more than 9 inches, meteorologist Jon Palmer said Tuesday morning from the National Weather Service’s office in Gray.

The highest snowfall totals are expected in Bath, Belfast, Brunswick and Rockland, which should get 9 to 12 inches, Palmer said.

Portland, which is on the “southern fringe” of the weather system, could see 5 to 8 inches of snow. Palmer said those amounts may vary across the city, with the peninsula receiving around 5 inches and the Portland International Jetport expecting about 8 inches.

In central Maine, Augusta and Waterville are expected to get 5 to 8 inches of snow. Auburn and Lewiston are expected to get between 6 and 10 inches, while most of the rest of the state could see 3 to 6 inches, Palmer said.

Snow will arrive Tuesday afternoon and may be mixed with some rain along Portland’s peninsula, Palmer said. Snowfall will continue through the overnight hours and is expected to be the heaviest between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The weather service issued a winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Tuesday to 1 p.m. Wednesday for Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Waldo counties.

On Tuesday afternoon, that warning was expanded to include the southern portions of Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties and interior York County, as well as Carroll County in eastern New Hampshire.

Speed limits were reduced to 45 mph along I-95 from the New Hampshire border to Exit 53 in Falmouth, the Maine Turnpike Authority announced around 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.

A less-severe winter weather advisory is in effect for the remainder of Maine, save for Aroostook and Washington counties, where the snow’s impact is expected to be minimal.

Palmer said commuters should be mindful while traveling Tuesday evening because snow is likely to be on the road. While it won’t be the “most impactful commute that Mainers have seen,” he said many people will be driving on snow-covered roads.

AAA projects 4.6 million New Englanders planned to travel for the holidays between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, an increase of about 2% over last year.

‘IT’S GOING TO BE A WHITE CHRISTMAS’

Downtown Portland was bustling with shoppers Tuesday afternoon, some of whom said they were in a rush to get home ahead of the first flakes of the storm.

Stefan Gow and Meagan Smith, of Quebec, had “just got all our Christmas shopping done,” Gow said, and were prepared for a snowy night in Portland.

“We’ve got our jackets, our gloves, our boots,” he said. “We’re ready.”

The two were set to head home on Christmas Eve, a drive that would typically take about 5½ hours. But having seen reports of snow into Wednesday in both Maine and Canada, Gow and Smith said they might move up their departure.

“Hopefully it just passes over us as we go,” Smith said.

As Betsy Chase, of Portland, walked her dog Stella through Munjoy Hill on Tuesday afternoon, she noted the lack of snow.

“I’m worried that it’s getting pushed later and later, and will impact Christmas Eve,” she said.

But a few moments later, the first flakes began to fall.

“Come on, Stella,” Chase said. “It’s going to be a white Christmas.”

Maintenance crews for the Maine Turnpike Authority are preparing for the snowfall. Rebecca Grover, a spokesperson for the agency, said in a statement that drivers should avoid distractions, obey the speed limit, and clear off their vehicles during and after a storm.

The weather could also bring delays to travelers at the Portland International Jetport, which saw its busiest travel day of the season Monday.

Almost all arrivals and departures Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning were still on schedule as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the jetport’s website. But Assistant Airport Director Zachary Sundquist said in a statement Monday that passengers should remember to check their flight status before heading to the jetport, since those statuses can change quickly as bad weather moves into the area.

Maine state offices will be closed Wednesday because of the storm, the state announced Tuesday afternoon.

“This storm is anticipated to create slick travel on Christmas Eve. If you’re traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday, please take necessary precautions to arrive safely at your holiday destination,” Gov. Janet Mills said in a written statement. “If you are hitting the road, please remember to give plenty of room to plowing crews and first responders working to keep people safe.”

Several communities across the state have issued parking bans in response to the forecast.

The city of Portland issued a parking ban between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. In a news release, the city urged residents to move their cars as early as possible because the storm is expected to arrive during the afternoon and because city schools were not in session.

The city said it is extending the hours for its reduced snow ban parking rate at the Spring Street and Elm Street garages, with a charge of $3 available for drivers who enter those garages after 2 p.m. Tuesday and leave before 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the Portland City Council raised the fine for failing to move a vehicle during a snow ban to $130, a sharp jump from the prior $40. Officials pointed to low compliance with parking bans in previous winters and a lack of available tow trucks, complicating snow removal.

This ban will be the first since the increased fine took effect. A previous snow ban in early December fell one day before the higher fee kicked in, creating a de facto grace period.

Augusta, Bangor, Bath, Berwick, Biddeford, Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Freeport, Gardiner, Kennebunkport, Lewiston, Lisbon, Old Orchard Beach, Rockland, Saco, Sanford, Scarborough, Topsham, Westbrook and Windham also announced parking bans that are in effect into Wednesday.

Most schools were already on winter break, but a few that were still open Tuesday announced early closures, including Sanford-area schools, Southern Maine Community College and the Wells-Ogunquit school district.

Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed to this story.