Supernowy

Supernowy is a term used in speculative meteorology and certain fictional contexts to describe an exceptionally intense and prolonged snowfall event. It denotes a rapid onset of heavy snow that persists across a broad area, producing unusually high accumulations over a short period. The term is not an officially recognized classification in mainstream meteorology and is largely found in fiction, speculative writing, and online discussions about extreme weather.

Etymology: The name combines the English prefix super- with the Polish word nowy meaning new, signaling a “new” category of snow events. It first appeared in online communities in the early 2020s and has since circulated in climate-fiction circles and some weather-modeling discussions.

Definition and characteristics: In the common fictional usage, a supernowy features a sudden outbreak of snowfall with high rates, sometimes exceeding several centimeters per hour, spreading over tens of thousands of square kilometers. It is often associated with strong frontal systems, amplified jet streams, and persistent lift that sustains snowfall for a day or more. The snow is typically described as light and dry, leading to deceptively rapid accumulation and challenging snow removal conditions.

Occurrence and use: Because it is not an established meteorological term, supernowy is mainly used as a narrative device to explore extreme weather impacts or as a scenario in tabletop games and disaster simulations. Some online simulators and climate-fiction anthologies reference the concept to illustrate rapid weather transitions.

See also: Snowstorm, blizzard, whiteout, extreme weather event.