Felly sgrifennodd Alan White :
How about replacing 'white out' with 'black out' to make it valid?

The problem with "black-out" is that it's something one creates by shutting
out all light[1]. It's not a natural phenomenon[2]. A white-out is a natural
phenomenon. Black-outs are not created by the weather or astronomical
conditions. White-outs are, as is darkness.

That's not to say you couldn't create a "near black-out" of course!

Adrian

[1] or, not relevant I think to this comparison, what is created when the
power is cut off; but that does not of course create a total absence of
light

[2] except, arguably, in a deep cave. But we don't use the term "black-out"
there anyway as that term tends to presume the previous presence of light
--
Adrian Shaw ais@
Adran Cyfrifiadureg, Prifysgol Cymru, aber.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru ac.
http://users.aber.ac.uk/ais uk