Portland could set a new Dec. 3 record for snowfall accumulation, the National Weather Service said Monday.

Meterologist Mike Cempa said between 4 to 6 inches of snow had fallen in the Portland area by mid-Monday, with more snow expected to accumulate into the late evening hours.

Cempa said the snowfall record for Dec. 3 in Portland was set in 1890. Cempa said 8.5 inches fell in Portland 117 years ago.

Earlier this afternoon, city officials announced an overnight parking ban in Portland. The ban begins at 10 p.m. today and runs through 6 a.m. Tuesday; parking on public ways during those hours is prohibited.

Click here for a list of designated parking areas or check the list at the bottom of this update.

Meanwhile, Gov. Baldacci announced that state government would be closing at 2 p.m. Officials said about 14,000 state workers across Maine would be allowed to leave work early.

Major employers such as Bath Iron Works canceled its second shift operation, an d Brunswick Naval Air Station sent all its non-essential personnel home at noon.

According to Portland's Department of Public Works, there are a number of places to park at no charge during a ban including:

Vehicles must be out of these alternate parking lots by 6 a.m. the morning the ban is lifted.