Blizzard

a modern American word whose origin is in doubt. As applied to a severe snow storm the word came into general use in the American newspapers during the bitterly cold winter of 1880-1881, although some papers claim its use as early as the 70’s. It is employed in the Western States to describe a peculiarly fierce and cold wind, accompanied by a very fine, blinding snow which suffocates as well as freezes men and animals exposed to it. These storms come up very suddenly and overtake the traveler without premonition. The sky becomes darkened, and the snow is driven by a terrible wind which comes with a deafening roar. The blizzard which will long be remembered in the Eastern States began March 11, 1888, and raged until the 14th, New York and Philadelphia being the cities most affected. The wind at one time blew at the rate of 46 miles an hour. The streets and roads were blocked, railroad trains snowed up for days, telegraphic communication cut off, and many lives were lost.