A snirt storm is a blizzard on the Great Plains of North
America. The
snow is actually made up a of combination of snowflakes and dirt particles. Because the wind is so strong in flat areas like plains, it pulls topsoil right up into the air. If you walked outdoors during a snirt storm you would feel constant stings of sand-sized particles sandblasting your
face. When people get back indoors, they have a very distinctive appearance, because the dirt accumulates around their eyes, making them look like raccoons.