Snowmageddon
Encyclopedia
Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse and Snowzilla are portmanteaus of the word "snow" with either "Armageddon
", "Apocalypse
" and "Godzilla
" respectively. Snowmageddon and Snowpocalypse seem to have first been published in the popular press in Canada
during January 2009, and was also used in January 2010 by The Guardian
reporter Charlie Brooker
on January 16, 2010 in order to describe heavy snowfall across the United Kingdom
during the preceding days. The Washington Post, out of Washington, DC, ran an online poll asking for reader feedback prior to the First North American blizzard of 2010
on February 4, 2010, and several blog
s, including the Washington Post's own blog, followed that up by using either "Snowmageddon" and or "Snowpocalypse" during the following days, before, during, and after the storm hit.
The Washington Post also popularized the terms "snOMG" (see OMG
) and "kaisersnoze" (see Keyser Soze
) in response to the February snowstorms.
During the evening preceding the first blizzard hitting Washington, DC, most of the United States federal government closed, and press coverage continued to characterize the storm using either "Snowmageddon", "Snowpocalypse", or both. The phrase was later popularized by the President of the United States
, Barack Obama
, on February 8, 2010, who used the term while speaking at the Democratic National Committee
's meeting.
The 2008 children's book Winter Blast, by Chris Wright
, uses the term "snowmageddon" in the storyline of the book.
Similar terms
Armageddon
Armageddon is, according to the Bible, the site of a battle during the end times, variously interpreted as either a literal or symbolic location...
", "Apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
" and "Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
" respectively. Snowmageddon and Snowpocalypse seem to have first been published in the popular press in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
during January 2009, and was also used in January 2010 by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reporter Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism...
on January 16, 2010 in order to describe heavy snowfall across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the preceding days. The Washington Post, out of Washington, DC, ran an online poll asking for reader feedback prior to the First North American blizzard of 2010
First North American blizzard of 2010
The February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard also known as "Snowmaggedon" was a winter storm and severe weather event that tracked from the U.S. states of California to Arizona through northern Mexico, the American Southwest, the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions...
on February 4, 2010, and several blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s, including the Washington Post's own blog, followed that up by using either "Snowmageddon" and or "Snowpocalypse" during the following days, before, during, and after the storm hit.
The Washington Post also popularized the terms "snOMG" (see OMG
OMG
OMG may refer to:*Oh My goodness, or Oh My Gosh, a common abbreviation used in SMS and Instant Messaging*omg!, a celebrity news and gossip Web site run by Yahoo.com...
) and "kaisersnoze" (see Keyser Soze
Keyser Söze
Keyser Söze is a fictional character in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects, written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. According to Roger "Verbal" Kint, Söze is a crimelord whose ruthlessness and influence have acquired a legendary, even mythical, status among police and criminals...
) in response to the February snowstorms.
During the evening preceding the first blizzard hitting Washington, DC, most of the United States federal government closed, and press coverage continued to characterize the storm using either "Snowmageddon", "Snowpocalypse", or both. The phrase was later popularized by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, on February 8, 2010, who used the term while speaking at the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
's meeting.
The 2008 children's book Winter Blast, by Chris Wright
Christopher Wright (author)
Christopher Wright in Pontiac, Michigan, is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight...
, uses the term "snowmageddon" in the storyline of the book.
See also
Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse and Snowzilla can refer specifically to:- (collectively or inclusively) the
- North American blizzard of 2009North American blizzard of 2009The North American blizzard of 2009 was a Category 2 nor'easter that formed over the Gulf of Mexico in December 2009 and became a major snowstorm for the East Coast of the United States and Canadian Atlantic provinces...
(Snowpocalypse) - First North American blizzard of 2010First North American blizzard of 2010The February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard also known as "Snowmaggedon" was a winter storm and severe weather event that tracked from the U.S. states of California to Arizona through northern Mexico, the American Southwest, the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions...
(Snowmageddon) - Second North American blizzard of 2010Second North American blizzard of 2010The February 9–10, 2010 North American blizzard was a winter storm and severe weather event that afflicted the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the United States between February 9–11, 2010, affecting some of the same regions that had experienced a historic Nor'easter three days prior...
- Third North American blizzard of 2010
- December 2010 North American blizzardDecember 2010 North American blizzardThe December 2010 North American blizzard was a major nor'easter and historic blizzard affecting the United States from portions of northern Florida to Maine and portions of Canada on December 26–27, 2010. It was the first significant winter storm of the 2010-11 winter season and the fourth North...
- January 31–February 2, 2011 North American winter storm
- Winter of 2009–2010 in the United KingdomWinter of 2009–2010 in the United KingdomThe winter of 2009–2010 in the United Kingdom was a meteorological event that started on 16 December 2009, as part of the severe winter weather in Europe. January 2010 was provisionally the coldest January since 1987 across the country...
Similar terms
- SnowzillaSnowzillaSnowzilla is a giant snowman which has been erected each pre-Christmas season since 2005 in the front yard of private resident Billy Powers' home in Anchorage, Alaska, USA.-History:...
- Blizzard of '93
- White JuanWhite JuanWhite Juan is the unofficial name given to the Atlantic Canada blizzard of February 2004, a strong nor'easter that affected most of Atlantic Canada between February 17 and 20, 2004—only five months after Hurricane Juan devastated central Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.The storm dropped...
- Carmageddon