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I hope this don't sound stupid but we just had our first big snow and wind here in southern Idaho. All the entrances are drifted in. I know the snow can act as an insulation but should I uncover the entrances or leave them alone until it warms up. Just wondering.
Forgot to mention that the temp last night was 20 below and not expected to warm up to soon..
Open !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bees need oxygen too.
I'd clear the snow, but top entrances that arent blocked work nicely if you can't get to it immediately.
Open for sure. You are going to need proper ventillation to keep the inside of the hive dry.
I would open them. Probably it will melt enough around the hive so that ventilation is not a problem, but if you get a day that is warm enough for a cleansing flight, you want to be sure that they can take advantage of it.
My main concern is the cleansing flights... but it's not impossible to sufficate them, but they usually don't because of snow.
The snow will keep the icy blast of wind out and they will not suffocate. I had bees spend four months under snowbanks and they wintered better than those exposed. When the bees have flying weather, consider clearing it away. Before then, the sn ow is a good thing.