Fell Winter (Third Age)

The Fell Winter (Third Age 2911 – Third Age 2912) was an extremely cold and long-lasting winter in Middle-earth.

Like the earlier Long Winter (Third Age 2758 – Third Age 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 that had taken place more than a century earlier had eliminated most of the Orcs in the north, and the Haradrim had been badly defeated in Third Age 2885.

The winter was also less harsh than the Long Winter, and snow and ice stopped in Eriador at the Greyflood River, and in Wilderland in the middle of Mirkwood. Nevertheless, there were severe problems, as food again ran short, and the Hobbits of the Shire were attacked by White Wolves, which crossed the frozen Brandywine river. It was on this occasion that the Horn-call of Buckland had been sounded; it was not heard again until Black Riders invaded Buckland in Third Age 3018. 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 Greyflood, and the city of Tharbad was ruined and its bridge broken. The people of Enedwaith also suffered greatly as their lands were flooded.