FARMINGTON — Four friends from the University of Maine at Farmington met for coffee during Tuesday’s storm.
It’s a tradition they started during their freshman year, Andrew Martin said as he, Luke Deems, Jennifer Bailey and Amy Patterson met at Dunkin’ Donuts.
During big storms when classes are canceled, the four “brave the storm” to meet, he said.
Walking to the Main Street coffee chop was awful Tuesday morning, he said. Wind-blown snow hit their faces. But, it didn’t stop them from ordering ice coffee or Martin from wearing shorts.
“It’s a good way to spend the day off,” he said.
Few vehicles were parked along Main and Broadway as several businesses appeared to be closed. A sign at the Farmington Post Office noted it was closed.
Tranten’s Grocery, Reny’s and Homestead Bakery appeared to be dark and not open by midmorning. No cars were parked near. Phone calls were not answered.
There were a few vehicles parked in front of Dunkin’ Donuts. Business during the morning was pretty good, a clerk said.
Visibility was extremely poor on the roads, Farmington Police Officer Ryan Rosie said. One could not see from one block to another downtown.
But while it looked and felt like a blizzard, Dennis Pike of Farmington, a cooperative observer for the National Weather Service, doubted Farmington would reach blizzard conditions.
For it to be a blizzard, sustained winds must be at least 35 mph.
“We’re not there yet,” he said. “Technically, we’re not meeting blizzard conditions.”
Temperatures were in the single digits in Farmington in the morning and snow depths were difficult to measure because of the wind, he said.
Pike said he noticed quite a lot of birds out in the storm in the morning, struggling to fly.
Farther north in Eustis, a very fine snow was not adding up, Betty Wing, weather observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said. The snow started about 7:30 a.m. and by 1 p.m. only a couple inches or so had fallen. There was a little breeze but not a wind, she said.
It was 1 degree there, she said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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