metel

Metel, from the Russian word метель (metel), is a noun meaning a snowstorm or blizzard. It refers to winter weather in which snow is blown by strong winds, producing low visibility and snowdrifts. The term emphasizes wind-driven conditions as opposed to snowfall alone.

In meteorology, metel describes events with sustained gusty winds and snowfall that reduce visibility, often accompanied by drifting snow. While usage varies, it is a common forecast term in Russian-language weather reports and can describe both short-lived squalls and longer snowstorms.

In literature and culture, metel appears as a motif of harsh winters and human endurance. It has appeared in poetry, prose, and film to evoke isolation, danger, and the struggle against wintry elements. The word is primarily used in Russian but has been encountered in translated works and discussions of Slavonic winter imagery.

See also: snowstorm, blizzard, winter weather.