Maine is preparing for some late Tuesday snow that forecasters have warned could snarl the evening commute.

The speed limit along the Maine Turnpike was lowered to 45 mph from Kittery to Falmouth, the Maine Turnpike Authority announced around 3:30 p.m. and was extended all the way to its expiration at mile marker 109 in Augusta by 5:45 p.m.

At least an inch or 2 of snow is expected across a large portion of Maine, with up to 5 inches in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow was expected to begin falling during the evening commute in southern Maine before eventually reaching Down East later Tuesday night, according to the weather service. In southern and central Maine, the precipitation was expected to turn to freezing rain overnight.

The system is expected to move out of the state Wednesday, briefly giving way to warmer temperatures.

Several communities issued street parking bans Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning after the weather service issued an winter weather advisory for south-central and southwest Maine, including portions of York, Cumberland, Sagahadoc and Androscoggin counties.

Communities with parking bans in place as of Tuesday included Bath, Brunswick, Old Orchard Beach, Rockland, Sanford, Scarborough, Topsham and Waterville.

A number of municipalities have also announced early closures or the postponements of evening meetings.

The South Portland City Council postponed its regular meeting and will instead convene Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Some local libraries also announced they’d be closing early, including the Kennebunk Free Library, Scarborough Public Library and the D.A. Hurd Library in North Berwick.

Southern Maine and York County community colleges also canceled evening classes.

Staff Writer Dana Richie contributed to this story.