Iv had bees for 4 years now, only ever lost 1 hive over those 4 years in winter. Went into this winter with 9 hives and its the most comfortable I was going into winter as far as preparation goes, food stores etc. I just found out I lost 6 of the 9. Plenty of stores plenty of everything except for young bees in the fall. Didn't order any bees because I was planning on splitting what I had looks like im not doing that to the extent I had planned. Thats what a dry summer does I suppose.
-Alex
And an extreme cold winter without being able to break cluster.