"Martin Rowley" schreef in bericht
news:es41n.2527

: ... the word 'blizzard' in English language use probably goes back to
: the last decade of the 19th century. I have a note that it was used in
: connection with the March 1891 snow event, possibly for the first time
: in writing, though probably the word was around for a while before. It
: is thought to be derived from the phrase (in German) " Der sturm kommt
: blitzartig ", which, subject to correct by Colin, I believe to mean
: 'the storm coming/came lightning-like'.

My Concise Oxford Dictionary says

blizzard, n. blinding snowstorm [U.S. "violent blow" (1829), "snowstorm"
(1870), origin unknown; cf. "blizz" downpour (of rain, 1770)].

The idea of an Americanism - see John Hall's post - having its origin in
German is not far-fetched, but the Oxford does not seem to back it up.

"Der Sturm kommt blitzartig" does indeed mean what you wrote: "The storm
comes lightning-like" (i.e. in a way that resembles lightning)

Colin Youngs
Brussels