Fell Winter (Third Age)

The Fell Winter of T.A. 2911–2912 was an extremely cold and long-lasting winter in Middle-earth.

Like the earlier Long Winter of Third Age 2758–2759, the Fell Winter began in November. This time Sauron was not able to launch a full attack, as the War of the Dwarves and Orcs of a full century earlier had eliminated most of his Orcs in the north, and the Haradrim had been badly defeated in 2885.

The winter was also less harsh than the Long Winter, and snow and ice stopped in Eriador at the Gwathló river, and in Rhovanion in the middle of Mirkwood. Nevertheless there were problems, as food again ran short, and the Hobbits of The Shire were attacked by wolves which crossed the frozen Baranduin river. Gandalf and the Rangers of the North had to provide food for the Hobbits to prevent them from dying of hunger.

In March when the winter ended great floods of meltwater rushed down Gwathló, and the city of Tharbad was ruined and its bridge broken. The people of Enedwaith also suffered greatly as their lands were flooded.