COLD WEATHER IN SOUTHERN TENNESSEE

Blacksheep · January 19, 2016, 10:52:59 AM

Hi Guys!Very cold here this morning in southern Tennessee!It is 12 % here and the sun is beginning to shine however bad weather is coming to night and Wednesday.
I sure hope my bees make it thru this cold snap!I have 1 hive I am fairly sure it will be done as the numbers were low and had some robbing.I put on a robber shield but to cold to check the bees so I left threm be for the time being and will open them when the weather warms.

BeeMaster2 · January 19, 2016, 01:40:01 PM

Good luck Black sheep.
It is the coldest here for the year today and supposed to be colder tomorrow. If your hive is bigger than a softball, they will probably survive if they have enough food to burn to keep them warm. I removed a football sized open air hive that was no bigger than a softball during a week long cold snap down here.
Jim

KeyLargoBees · January 19, 2016, 02:23:57 PM

Got down to 56 here in Key Largo last night (coldest night so far) and the bees were nowhere to be seen peering up through the screened bottom boards....clustered tight I assume....and now they are flying fast and furious in the 72 degree sun and breeze none the worse for wear.

Blacksheep · January 19, 2016, 03:29:28 PM

That is good news I hope my bees will be ok they have food but sometimes they will not break cluster to get it!

KPF · January 19, 2016, 03:48:12 PM

I don't recall which of George Imirie's Pink Sheets talked about cold but everything most experienced beeks tell me is cold doesn't kill strong hives. If your hive is strong, they'll be mighty fine at 12 degrees. If the hive is weak for any reason, then that's a different story. This is a link to George Imirie's Pink Pages. Nice reading for cold winter nights.

http://pinkpages.chrisbacherconsulting.com/

Michael Bush · January 20, 2016, 10:12:52 AM

> If your hive is strong, they'll be mighty fine at 12 degrees.

or -12 degrees F... or -27 degrees F...

Blacksheep · January 21, 2016, 09:18:14 PM

tHANKS gUYS!i KNOW i HIVE IS WEAK AS IT WAS GETTING ROIBBED EARLIER AND i PUT ROBBER SCREEN ON IT AND HAVENOT SEEN ANY BEE SINCE i DID THAT.iT HAS BEEN REAL COLD AND THE BEES ARE CULSTERED>

Colobee · January 21, 2016, 11:41:59 PM

Our long range outlook around Denver is for 60's by the end of next week. Hopefully that translates to a warmer spell for you within a few days later.

Good luck!

BeeMaster2 · January 22, 2016, 12:44:58 PM

This weekend we are going into the low 20's with highs around 40. Winter is now here.
Jim

Blacksheep · January 22, 2016, 03:37:17 PM

Well its 38 % and snowing flakes the size of a quarter!Lawn is being covered fast but roads are still just wet as it has been raining very hard earlier.North of here snow and ice around Nashville which is 80 miles north of Winchester.

Jim134 · January 22, 2016, 05:43:08 PM

I wonder what you guys do if The ever got in the northern part of the United States? Such as northern New England Wisconsin Minnesota in Upper Michigan and the like..

BEE HAPPY Jim 134

BeeMaster2 · January 22, 2016, 08:54:15 PM

Jim,
I grew up in PA. Owned a home in Maryland. 3 feet of snow was not uncommon. My wife had to deal with so much snow while I was out at sea while in Maryland that after I retired my wife refused to go back north.
I was practicing driving on snow covered parking lots long before had my drivers license.
Jim

Colobee · January 22, 2016, 09:08:55 PM

We had low 50's today (flying weather), and several of the hives were really active. The snow cover is still pretty extensive. We're still regularly seeing night time low's in the teens. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit warmer. Hopefully that warmer weather will be heading your way soon.

GSF · January 23, 2016, 10:28:51 AM

JIM 134; I know what I'd do.., move back to Alabama

Blacksheep · January 23, 2016, 11:03:10 AM

I spent 2 winters in Ayer,Mass while in the Army walking guard at - temps.Not for me however it is beautiful in the summer time!