A perfect storm

Meaning

A rare combination of circumstances that aggravate a situation

Usage

Used when multiple issues align to cause dramatic results

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Meteorology term for ingredients aligning to create severe weather

Popularized by the 1997 book of the same name