{{Short description|Portmanteau referring to a severe snowstorm}} [[File:Transmission towers and lines with snow in East Texas.jpg|thumb|right|Transmission towers and power lines in East Texas snow from the 2010 North American Blizzard]] '''Snowmageddon''', '''Snowpocalypse''', and '''Snowzilla''' are portmanteaus of the word "snow" with "Armageddon", "Apocalypse", and "Godzilla" respectively. Snowmageddon and Snowpocalypse were used in the popular press in Canada during January 2009,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2276849|accessdate=February 11, 2010|title=Mild winter easy on city budget|date=January 26, 2010|first=Heather|last=Ibbotson|newspaper=Brantford Expositor|quote="At this time last year, we were referring to it as snowmageddon," Madden said.|archive-date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319195119/http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2276849|url-status=live}}</ref> and was also used in January 2010 by ''The Guardian'' reporter Charlie Brooker to characterise the sensationalist reaction of television news to a period of snowfall across the UK.<ref name="UKSnowmageddon">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/jan/16/charlie-brooker-screen-burn|accessdate=February 11, 2010|title=Charlie Brooker's Screen burn|first=Charlie|last=Brooker|authorlink=Charlie Brooker|date=January 16, 2010|newspaper=The Guardian|quote=As far as the 24-hour rolling networks were concerned, this wasn't a freak weather condition. This was war. Death from the skies. Earth versus the Ice Warriors. Snowmageddon.}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'', out of Washington, D.C., ran an online poll asking for reader feedback prior to the February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard on February 4, 2010,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/02/poll_storm_nametwitter_hashtag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628225200/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/02/poll_storm_nametwitter_hashtag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2012|accessdate=February 11, 2010|title=Vote for storm name, Twitter hashtag & snow total|date=February 4, 2010|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> and several blogs, including the ''Washington Post''{{'}}s own blog, followed that up by using either "Snowmageddon" or "Snowpocalypse" before, during, and after the storm hit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/us/06storm.html|accessdate=February 11, 2010|title=East Coast Is Hit by 'Potentially Epic Snowstorm'|first1=John M.|last1=Broder|first2=Jack|last2=Healy|date=February 5, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|quote=bracing for what newspapers and bloggers have been calling the “snowpocalypse,” or “snowmageddon,”|archive-date=February 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211040300/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/us/06storm.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
''The Washington Post'' also popularized the term "kaisersnoze" (see Keyser Söze) in response to the February snowstorms.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/washingtons-new-four-letter-word-snow/|access-date=February 12, 2010|title=Washington's New Four-Letter Word: Snow|first1=Dan M.|last1=Gainor|date=February 10, 2010|agency=Reuters|publisher=Fox News|quote=D.C. residents have turned to social media like Twitter and Facebook to vent their frustration with terms like “snOMG,” “snowmageddon”, “snowpocalypse”, and “kaisersnoze”.|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731165349/https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/washingtons-new-four-letter-word-snow|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the evening preceding the first blizzard hitting Washington, D.C., most of the United States federal government closed, and press coverage continued to characterize the storm using either "Snowmageddon", "Snowpocalypse", or both.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3HVBhfkkHN4c9TlIAxNkxjbwR0A|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213022711/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3HVBhfkkHN4c9TlIAxNkxjbwR0A|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2010|accessdate=February 11, 2010|title=Powerful blizzard shuts down US capital|date=February 5, 2010|agency=AFP|quote=The storm, dubbed "Snowpocalypse" and "Snowmageddon" by many locals,}}</ref>
The term "Snowpocalypse" was used in the Pacific Northwest to refer to a snowstorm in December 2008.<ref name=nkh08/><ref name=thelede/>
The 2008 children's book ''Winter Blast'' by Chris Wright, uses the term "snowmageddon" in the storyline of the book.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.mountainvalleypublishing.com/winterblast.asp|accessdate=February 11, 2010|title=Winter Blast|first=Chris|last=Wright|authorlink=Christopher Wright (author)|year=2008|publisher=Mountain Valley Publishing|isbn=978-1-934940-10-5|archive-date=2009-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105085200/http://www.mountainvalleypublishing.com/winterblast.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Examples== *The Great Blizzard of '93 (Superstorm<ref>{{Cite web |title=Superstorm of 1993 "Storm of the Century" |url=https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Superstorm93 |date=2013-02-23 |access-date=2026-01-26 |last=Armstrong |first=Tim |website=National Weather Service |url-status=live |archive-date=2022-09-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220929204631/https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Superstorm93 |quote=The Superstorm of 1993 (also called the Storm of the Century) was one of the most intense mid-latitude cyclones ever observed over the Eastern United States.}}</ref>) *January 2000 North American blizzard (Snowmageddon in Raleigh<ref>{{Cite news |last=Skinner |first=Grant |title=Raleigh's snowmageddon: Breaking down the biggest snowstorm in 2000 |url=https://www.wral.com/weather/snowmageddon-biggest-snowstorm-in-raleigh-jan-2000/ |work=WRAL-TV |date=2026-01-22 |access-date=2026-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126163527/https://www.wral.com/weather/snowmageddon-biggest-snowstorm-in-raleigh-jan-2000/ |quote=January 24-25th, 2000, nicknamed 'Raleigh's Snowmageddon', brought over 20 inches of snow to parts of the Triangle, and just two days prior, forecast models showed next to nothing.}}</ref>) *North American blizzard of 2009 (Snowpocalypse<ref name="cwg">{{Cite news |title=Capital Weather Gang - Amazing mid-Atlantic snow statistics |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/02/amazing_mid-atlantic_snow_stat.html |work=The Washington Post |last=Samenow |first=Jason |date=2010-02-12 |access-date=2026-01-26 |archive-date=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630131433/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/02/amazing_mid-atlantic_snow_stat.html}}</ref>) *February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard (Snowmageddon<ref name="cwg" />) *February 9–10, 2010 North American blizzard (Snowmageddon: Snoverkill)<ref name="cwg" /><ref name="MoCo">{{Cite news |title=Snowmageddon Began 14 Years Ago Today |url=https://mocoshow.com/2024/02/05/snowmageddon-began-14-years-ago-today/ |date=2024-02-05 |access-date=2026-01-25 |work=The MoCo Show |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126044628/https://mocoshow.com/2024/02/05/snowmageddon-began-14-years-ago-today/ |quote=A second blizzard named 'Snoverkill' hit the region five days later and both were preceded by 'Snowpocalypse' in December,}}</ref> *February 25–27, 2010 North American blizzard (Snowicane<ref>{{Cite news |title=Snowpocalypse to snowicane: Hype reigns |url=https://katu.com/weather/blog/snowpocalypse-to-snowicane-hype-reigns |last=Sistek |first=Scott |website=KATU |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126052446/https://katu.com/weather/blog/snowpocalypse-to-snowicane-hype-reigns |quote=AccuWeather's Web site on Saturday took up the 'snowicane' defense: 'Our concern was that the storm might be taken too lightly by the public if we stuck to the norm of calling the system a nor'easter, snowstorm, or even a blizzard.'}}</ref>) *December 2010 North American blizzard (remembered as Snowmageddon in Lambton County)<ref>{{Cite news |title=The blizzard that broke the highway: Snowmageddon after 15 years |url=https://www.thesarniajournal.ca/news/the-blizzard-that-broke-the-highway-snowmageddon-after-15-years-11620487 |date=2025-12-15 |access-date=2026-01-25 |work=The Sarnia Journal |quote=Snowmageddon, as it came to be known, unfolded over December 12 and 13, gripping Lambton County and much of southwestern Ontario with blinding snow, whiteout conditions, and extreme cold.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Did you survive Snowmageddon? County asks resident to share stories |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/did-you-survive-snowmageddon-county-asks-resident-to-share-stories/ |date=2020-11-17 |access-date=2026-01-26 |work=CTV News |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126050004/https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/did-you-survive-snowmageddon-county-asks-resident-to-share-stories/ |quote=It’s those stories the Lambton County Archives wants residents to share to mark Snowmageddon’s 10th anniversary.}}</ref> *January 31 – February 2, 2011 North American blizzard (remembered as Snowmageddon in Chicago<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chicago Blizzard 2011: Looking back on 'Snowmageddon' 10 years later |url=https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-blizzard-2011-snowmageddon-biggest-snowstorms-winter-storm/10139546/ |date=2021-02-01 |access-date=2026-01-26 |work=WLS-TV |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126144319/https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-blizzard-2011-snowmageddon-biggest-snowstorms-winter-storm/10139546/}}</ref>) *February 2013 nor'easter (also described by The Atlantic as a snowpocalypse or snowmageddon<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Best Ways to Track the Big Blizzard |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/2013/02/best-nemo-blizzard-weather-news/318556/ |date=2013-02-08 |access-date=2026-01-26 |last=Abad-Santos |first=Alexander |work=The Atlantic |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126151244/https://www.theatlantic.com/national/2013/02/best-nemo-blizzard-weather-news/318556/ |quote=The big <s>snowpocalypse</s> <s>snowmageddon</s> <s>snowbigdeal</s> blizzard of 2013 is arriving as we speak and some cities on the East Coast are already getting their first dusting and/or pounding of snow.}}</ref>) *January 2014 Gulf Coast winter storm (remembered as Snowmageddon in Atlanta<ref>{{Cite news |title=Go outside and appreciate the clear conditions, because six years ago today was Snowmageddon |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/history/atlanta-snowmageddon-2014-anniversary/85-bcf15186-4d02-4a47-8025-5a2cc1f3fdac |date=2020-01-28 |access-date=2026-01-26 |work=WXIA-TV |last=Raymond |first=Jonathan |quote=It's one of the most infamous weather events in Atlanta history, and it turns six years old today: Snowmageddon. |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126053302/https://www.11alive.com/article/news/history/atlanta-snowmageddon-2014-anniversary/85-bcf15186-4d02-4a47-8025-5a2cc1f3fdac}}</ref>) *January 2–4, 2014 North American blizzard (Snowpocalypse<ref>{{Cite web |title=Media's "Snowpocalypse" on "Winter Storm Hercules" creates major public overreaction |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/medias-snowpocalypse-on-winter-storm-hercules-creates-major-public-overreaction-238843381-239670981 |date=2014-01-06 |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=IrishCentral |last=Fiscella |first=Charles |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126155746/https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/medias-snowpocalypse-on-winter-storm-hercules-creates-major-public-overreaction-238843381-239670981}}</ref>) *November 13 – 21, 2014 North American winter storm (Snow Blitz,<ref>{{Cite news |title=A look back on Buffalo's historic 2014 'Snowvember' storms that left 7 feet of snow in some spots |url=https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/a-look-back-on-buffalos-historic-2014-snowvember-storms-that-left-7-feet-of-snow-in-some-spots |quote=The snowstorms of Nov. 17-20, 2014, later dubbed 'Snowvember' or the Buffalo 'Snow Blitz' were a one-two punch of storms that had some areas just south of Buffalo digging out from 5-7 feet of snow, while some areas a few miles away received just a few inches. |last=Sistek |first=Scott |work=Fox Weather |date=2022-11-17 |access-date=2026-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126145658/https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/a-look-back-on-buffalos-historic-2014-snowvember-storms-that-left-7-feet-of-snow-in-some-spots}}</ref> Snowvember<ref>{{Cite news |title='The biggest challenge we've ever had': A look back at the 'Snowvember' storm 10 years later |url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/the-biggest-challenge-weve-ever-had-a-look-back-at-the-snowvember-storm-10-years-later |date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2026-01-26 |work=WKBW-TV |quote=It's the one-two punch of snow that will forever be remembered as 'Snowvember.' |last=Russo |first=Jeff |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126145933/https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/the-biggest-challenge-weve-ever-had-a-look-back-at-the-snowvember-storm-10-years-later}}</ref>) *A series of storms in winter 2015 that broke snowfall records in Boston, Massachusetts (Snowmageddon,<ref>{{cite news|author=Nik DeCosta-Klipa|website=WBUR|date=January 27, 2025|accessdate=February 7, 2025|title=The wildest stats and numbers from Boston's 'Snowmageddon' winter of 2015|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/01/27/boston-snow-winter-2015-by-the-numbers-newsletter|location=Boston, Massachusetts}}</ref> snowpocalypse<ref>{{cite news|author=Jill McDonough|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 21, 2015|accessdate=February 7, 2025|title=In Boston's snowpocalypse, some find inspiration|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/02/21/the-poetry-boston-snowfall/maV2CoJKQfkbFAAdnh08tL/story.html|location=Boston, Massachusetts|archive-date=February 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207143106/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/02/21/the-poetry-boston-snowfall/maV2CoJKQfkbFAAdnh08tL/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>) *January 2016 United States blizzard (Snowzilla<ref>{{cite news|author=Angela Fritz|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 22, 2016|accessdate=January 22, 2016|title=We hereby name this winter storm 'Snowzilla'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/01/21/poll-name-this-winter-storm/|location=Washington, D.C.|archive-date=January 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123103756/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/01/21/poll-name-this-winter-storm/|url-status=live|quote=Snowzilla makes so much sense to us because of its perfect nod to this 'Godzilla' El Nino.}}</ref>) *Winter of 2009–2010 in the United Kingdom (Big Freeze, Snowmageddon)<ref name="UKSnowmageddon"/> *Winter of 2010–2011 in the United Kingdom (Snowmageddon in Scotland)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Remembering Scotland's 2010 'Snowmageddon' as heavy snow blankets country |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/gallery/remembering-scotlands-2010-snowmageddon-heavy-36503940 |quote=One of the most infamous weather events took place in 2010, when the country was battered by snow chaos in what was dubbed 'Snowmaggedon'. |date=2026-01-26 |access-date=2026-01-26 |work=Daily Record |last=Smail |first=Alexander |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126142444/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/gallery/remembering-scotlands-2010-snowmageddon-heavy-36503940}}</ref> *January 17, 2020 in St. John's, Canada blizzard (Snowmageddon)<ref>{{cite news |title='Snowmageddon': cleanup begins after record Newfoundland storm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/19/snowmageddon-cleanup-begins-after-record-newfoundland-storm |work=The Guardian |agency=Reuters |date=18 January 2020 |location=Canada |quote=On social media people described the storm as 'snowmageddon'.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Marx |first1=Paris |title=Snowmageddon has come and gone. Let's hope metro St. John's learns the right lessons|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/pov-paris-marx-snowstorm-1.5439420 |website=CBC News |date=26 January 2020}}</ref> *February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm (Great Texas Freeze,<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Great Texas Freeze: February 11-20, 2021 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/great-texas-freeze-february-2021 |date=2023-02-24 |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=National Centers for Environmental Information |url-status=live |archive-date=2024-06-08 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240608212052/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/great-texas-freeze-february-2021}}</ref> Snowmageddon 2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Snowmageddon was Bad in Texas but the State has Seen Colder Days |url=https://knue.com/texas-coldest-temps/ |quote=During the snowmageddon of 2021, Tyler set a low temperature record of six degrees below zero while Longview set a record of five degrees below zero (KETK). |work=KNUE |last=Gibson |first=Michael |date=2022-11-16 |access-date=2026-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126050843/https://knue.com/texas-coldest-temps/}}</ref>) *January 2026 North American winter storm (Snowmageddon 2026)<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Kate |last2=Murillo |first2=Mike |title=Snowmageddon 2026? How the DC region is preparing for the incoming snowstorm |url=https://wtop.com/local/2026/01/montgomery-county-crews-prepare-for-major-snowfall-long-hours-ahead-for-plow-drivers/ |date=2026-01-23 |access-date=2026-01-25 |work=WTOP-FM |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126035340/https://wtop.com/local/2026/01/montgomery-county-crews-prepare-for-major-snowfall-long-hours-ahead-for-plow-drivers/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Matt |title=Dozens of military bases brace as ‘Snowmageddon’ storm hits this weekend |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-bases-snow-storm-ready/ |date=2026-01-24 |access-date=2026-01-25 |work=Task & Purpose |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260126035844/https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-bases-snow-storm-ready/}}</ref>
==See also== *{{Wiktionary-inline|Snowmageddon}} {{Wikinews|Major snowstorm sweeps across Eastern US}} *1993 Storm of the Century *1991 Perfect Storm *Hurricane Sandy *Perfect storm *White Juan
== References == {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=nkh08>{{Cite web | last = | first = | title = Snowpocalypse Now | url = http://www.northkitsapherald.com/news/36658439.html | publisher = North Kitsap Herald | date = 23 December 2008 | accessdate = 17 January 2012 | archive-date = 3 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160403231440/http://www.northkitsapherald.com/news/36658439.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name=thelede>{{Cite web | last = Wheaton | first = Sarah | title = Snowpocalypse Now, and Then | url = http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/snowpocalypse-now-and-then/ | work = The New York Times | date = 19 December 2009 | accessdate = 17 January 2012 | archive-date = 4 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131204081555/http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/snowpocalypse-now-and-then/ | url-status = live }}</ref> }}
Category:2000s neologisms Category:Popular culture neologisms Category:Winter weather events Category:Canadian slang Category:2009–10 North American winter