Here's what my hive is looking like. Interesting that I can find no yellow snow around.
http://www.youtube.com/user/c10250#p/u/10/XQjJi2a4weU (http://www.youtube.com/user/c10250#p/u/10/XQjJi2a4weU)
Ken
They all seem to be in the top box too.
The outside temp was 31.
I think that making noise in the bee yard knocking on the hives in the middle of the winter is harmful to the health of the hives.
The noise will disrupt the cluster and increase the honey consumption which leads to increase need for cleansing flights and if the weather does not brake that may lead to the death of the colony.
Some old timer would whisper in the bee yard during winter.
If the bees are all on top of the hive that is a sign that they are ruining short on honey.
Gilman