High winds out West

[Larry Bees]

I've been watching on TV of all of the damage caused by the high winds out west and was wondering if anybody's hives have been blown over.

I had some winds of 35-40 mph last month and they blew over 2 nucs of mine. I just set them back up and they are doing fine now.

Larry

[Apis_M_Rescue]

This time of year here in southern California is Santa Ana winds season. Had this rarer 70mph -100mph gusts in west San Gabriel Valley area where my 2 mini apiaries are. Just got my power on yesterday 9pm PST after being out 3 days 19 hours.

Had more drama by my home & around valley. High voltage wire snapped by my home & while arcing was blowing under my cars rear gas tank & tires. Was watching the remaining wire passing through the chinese elm, light up pointedly like a X-mas tree, but didn't ignite. Had black out shortly after & line current died. Counted 10 burn marks on driveway under & around my auto's back end.

Went Thursday noon round about dodging fallen trees, power lines, detours & cut small tree limb on the dirt road to one of my mini apiaries. Checked all my 19 hives & 1 nuc w/ late fall swarm & my friends one hive. Luckily only one had top blow off as is a late swarm that hadn't moved into super & didn't propolize. I haven't harvested so the hives are w/ much gravity & luckily the girls like to propolize their boxes.

Getting more but less severe winds tonight & Tues so placed bricks on hive roofs. Highest hives I have are 5 boxes high but if any higher might have to get those rachet straps. Not sure what others do in wind prone areas but this is seasonal & this particular wind event was rare as colder winds from north.

Heard one lady keeping her 5 medium box high hive on roof had it blow apart. Shes having angry off bees that don't seem to want to settle down & neighbor wants her to move hive. Another around here had his top heavy hive blow over.

Any other southern Californian keepers have wild winds excitement w/ the bees? What do others in more windy areas do to keep hives from toppling over? How do you approach the reassembly of hives when blown apart?

David AKA AMR
Southern Calif.

[Vance G]

Sams Club has these handy self storing ratcheting tie downs that work well.  I am not the out west you are thinking of but we still have winds as strong or stronger than the Santa Anna.  Just no fires and they are blowing the other direction.   They have a six or eight foot  and I make extensions if they are too short.  Good for moving colonies too.