{{Short description|Type of winter that kills plants and animals}} {{Other uses|Winter Kills (disambiguation){{!}}Winter Kills}} [[File:Fish Kill 745F2A9C-65B8-D693-7ABA3282F6A1ECE4.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Fish kill, from oxygen depletion caused by a winterkill]] '''Winterkill ''' happens in frigid and icy winters, its effect can kill both plants and animals.<ref>[https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/waterville/winterkill.html Winterkill assessments, What is winterkill?, 2025, Minnesota DNR]</ref> In lakes, the winterkill kills fish when the dissolved oxygen is too low due to the cold. The drop in dissolved oxygen occurs when the lake is too shallow, has insufficient inlet water, and/or the top ice is too thick.<ref>[https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/hutchinson/winterkill.html#:~:text=Clear%20Lake%20(by%20Watkins)%20A%20low%20winter,be%20normal%20at%20Clear%20Lake%20this%20year. Winterkill and Other Fish Kills, 2025, Minnesota DNR]</ref> Water aeration is one way to help prevent winterkill in lakes and ponds.<ref name=LackeyHolmes1972>{{cite journal |doi=10.1577/1548-8640(1972)34[175:EOTMOA]2.0.CO;2 |year=1972 |volume=34|pages=175 |title=Evaluation of Two Methods of Aeration to Prevent Winterkill |last1=Lackey|first1=Robert T. |last2=Holmes|first2=Donald W. |journal=The Progressive Fish-Culturist |issue=3}}</ref>
Winterkill of turfgrasses and crops can happen in winter due to very low temperatures. Winterkill can also bring on the drying out of turfgrasses/crops, with killing due to desiccation. With a layer of snow, turfgrasses/crops can be protected from desiccation. The other winterkill of turfgrasses/crops is crown hydration (cycles of freezing and thawing).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://extension.psu.edu/winterkill-of-turfgrasses|title=Winterkill of Turfgrasses|website=extension.psu.edu}}</ref>
Very cold winters can cause winterkill in deer, elk, and pronghorn. Due to the smaller body size of fawns, they are more susceptible to winterkill. Very cold, a thick ice layer or deep snow winters can reduce herd populations. A late spring can also cause winterkill. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://realtree.com/Wyoming-Range-Winter-Kill-More-Devastating-Than-Predicted|title=Wyoming Range Winter Kill More Devastating Than Predicted|website=Realtree Camo}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spca.bc.ca/news/winterkill-in-deer/|title=The winter woes of winterkill in deer}}</ref>
==See also== * Cold wave * Lake-effect snow * Whiteout (weather) * Blowing snow advisory * Blowing snow
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Natural disasters}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Snow or ice weather phenomena Category:Weather hazards Category:Hazards of outdoor recreation