What temp do they need to fly

[220]

Got a surprise Wed morning when I looked at one of my hives, my phone was showing temp of 3c,(37f) thermometer near the house 5c (41f) and I had a steady stream of bees coming and going from the hive. Over night temp had dropped to freezing point, this was 2 hours after sunrise. The hive is positioned so it gets sun as soon as it rises obviously the temp in direct sunlight felt much warmer but the air temp was still quite low.

[Acebird]

It could be one of those weird phenomena where it was warmer outside the hive.  Bees are gamblers, they sensed the rise in temperature and gambled it would continue.  Bees can survive freezing temperatures they just can't fly in it if they stop.  That is the gamble if it doesn't continue to warm up.

[220]

Even though we are regularly dropping to freezing point or below of a night days have been fine clear and in the 60's so I was expecting them to fly just not as early and while the temp was still low.
There is still a bit of dandelion and a few small patches of white clover have started flowering again so I guess they are keen to get to work when it looks like it will be a good day.