flurry
A flurry of snowflakes covered the ground.
A sudden and brief fall of snowflakes.
a sudden commotion, burst of activity, or rapid series of events
After the announcement, there was a flurry of activity in the office.
Everyone suddenly became very busy and active.
A flurry of emails arrived in my inbox this morning.
Many emails arrived suddenly and in quick succession.
Often used to describe sudden bursts of snow, rain, or activity.
a sudden light fall of snow
The first flurry of the season dusted the rooftops.
The first light fall of snow covered the rooftops.
Less common than the general meaning of commotion.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Common contexts
'Flurry' is often used with 'of' to describe sudden bursts, such as 'a flurry of activity,' 'a flurry of emails,' or 'a flurry of snow.'
Gold Rule
Avoid literal snow meaning in figurative contexts
Use 'flurry' figuratively to describe sudden activity or events, not literal snow unless describing a light fall.
Word Origin
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'sudden commotion'): from obsolete flurr 'to move in a disorderly manner' (imitative) + -y.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both literal (snow) and figurative (activity) contexts. Often implies brief duration and sudden onset.