Two visitors to Houlton couldn’t agree on whose idea it was to go shopping Wednesday, but the friends did agree it was a less than ideal day to search for bargains in Aroostook County.

“This wind is crazy,” said Michelle Leveille of Woodstock, New Brunswick, as she stood in the parking lot near Marden’s on North Street. “It was hard driving over here.”

“I felt like the wind was going to rip the car right off the road,” said Kim Mitchell, also of Woodstock.

Blustery weather was prevalent in The County and throughout the state Wednesday, as fierce spring winds brought wintry temperatures to many towns and cities.

The National Weather Service posted a wind advisory for most of the state, including the entire coast and from Fort Kent to Bangor and Greenville to Machias. While winds were expected to diminish by evening, a gale warning for the coast was to remain in effect through 2 a.m. Thursday.

Wednesday’s advisory warned of sustained west to northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of around 50 mph or more, especially over areas of higher and open terrain.

“Prepare for possible minor wind damage to shrubbery, trees and loose objects,” the weather service stated on its Web site. “Older and weaker trees may be blown down. Isolated power outages are possible.”

Mark Bloomer, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Caribou, advised motorists to be especially cautious because such strong winds can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Thursday’s forecast for much of the state called for sustained winds of 14-16 mph with gusts peaking at about 35 mph.

On Wednesday afternoon, flags whipped around on flagpoles and residents walked with their heads down and their shoulders hunched as they made their way through Market Square in downtown Houlton.

In Lincoln, firefighters and Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. crews were called out to deal with trees that fell across power lines on at least three streets, according to firefighter-engineer Rick Smart. The incidents caused power outages of varying lengths.

“It’s average for what we get around here with high winds,” Smart said.

A fallen tree also took out power lines in Millinocket on Medway Road, but the utility interruption was brief, Millinocket police Officer Steven Kenyon said.

Trees hit lines on Route 157 in East Millinocket near the Public Safety Building and in Woodville near Butterfield Ridge Road on Wednesday morning, East Millinocket police Officer Greylen Hale said.

BDN writer Nick Sambides

contributed to this report.

jlbdn@ainop.com

532-9257