What does the snowstorm on Christmas Eve mean in relation to events in Emma?

The
snowstorm on the night of Mrs. Weston's Christmas Eve party in Chapter XIV of 's
has great significance to events and is pivotal to the direction of the
story. Who would think a simple snowstorm and ill judged marriage proposal could have so much
impact.

As a result of the snowstorm, Mr. Elton is rejected by Miss Woodhouse
and goes to Bath to sulk abd recuperate his shattered ego. There he finds a wife and brings home
the resistible Mrs. Elton with all her "resources." Mrs. Elton
then triggers some other monumental...