noun / verb

flurry

FLER-ee/ˈflɜːri/

A brief swirling rush of moving particles.

A flurry of snow swirls past the kitchen window.

A compact three-panel sequence shows a brief snow flurry passing over the same bare sapling and park bench: clear air, a sudden swirl of light snow, then clear air again with only a faint dusting left behind.

Etymology

Earlier senses included a gust or squall and a state of commotion. That combination of sudden weather and agitation connects snowfall with a brief burst of activity, although the word’s origin remains uncertain.

In context

The New Detectives45:59

They showed a flurry of activity just before the murders. >> And looking at those records and our records, we started putting everything together that there was all kinds of conversations linking these suspects to each other.

The Most Twisted Family Conspiracy Ever Solved By The FBI | The New Detectives

More examples

Dry leaves flurry across the sidewalk when the wind rises.
The truck disappears in a flurry of dust.
Brief snow flurries leave a thin coating on the steps.

Forms

flurry · flurries · flurried · flurrying

Similar words

swirl: Emphasizes circular movement rather than a brief, sudden rush.
shower: Emphasizes particles falling together, not necessarily moving in swirls.