In case you've been loosing sleep over the origin of the term termination dust:

(hey, some of us get worked up about etymology, don't make fun.)

Back in AK in the 40's & 50's there was a lot of construction projects. The equipment wasn't very fancy, though, so as soon as the snow hit the construction would stop. So when the snow first appeared in the mountains it meant that people were going to get terminated pretty soon.

source: Jim Burkholder, which I consider a trustworthy source.