termination dust

Phrase

Meaning: The first snowfall on the mountaintops, marking summer's end.
Type: Phrase
Used in: Alaska

What does “termination dust” mean

When the peaks above Anchorage and the Mat-Su valley get their first dusting of snow — usually mid-September — it's "termination dust." Local shorthand for "summer is over, winter is on the way."

Where it's used

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