Winter Weather Watch: How This Warm Year Affects Your Bees 🐝

Winter in Utah has been warmer than usual, and that’s changing how our honey bees behave. While mild temperatures may feel like a relief to beekeepers, they can create unique challenges inside the hive. Understanding what’s happening—and how to respond—can make the difference between struggling colonies and strong spring build-ups.

Here’s what backyard beekeepers should know this winter and what you can do to help your bees thrive.

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Warmer Winters Mean More Active Bees

In a typical cold winter, bees form a tight cluster and enter a low-energy state (torpor) to conserve resources. This winter’s warmer temperatures mean:

• Bees are moving around more
• They are consuming stored food faster
• The queen may begin laying eggs earlier than normal
• Winter worker bees may have a shorter lifespan

Early brood rearing isn’t always a bad thing—it can help replace aging bees. However, it does create one important concern: mites. When brood is present, mites have more opportunities to reproduce. While there’s nothing you need to do immediately, make a mental note to monitor mite levels closely as spring approaches.

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Hive Inspection Temperature Guidelines

One of the most common winter mistakes is opening hives too early just because bees are flying. Flight activity does notmean it’s safe to inspect.

Keep these temperature guidelines in mind:

• Below 55°F:
  ❌ Do not open the hive—even if bees are flying at 44°F
• 55–65°F:
  ⚠️ You may open the hive briefly on a sunny day with at least three hours of daylight remaining
• 65°F and above:
  ✅ Safest temperature range for inspections

Best practices during winter inspections:

• Work quickly and intentionally
• Keep frames covered as much as possible
• Avoid breaking up the cluster or exposing brood

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Food Stores: The Hidden Risk of Warm Winters

Warm winters can be misleading. Without prolonged cold, bees remain active—and activity burns calories. Colonies that look fine from the outside may already be low on food.

• Candy boards or sugar blocks are ideal solid food sources for winter
• If your hive feels light, add additional candy blocks now
• Starvation most often occurs in late winter and early spring, but in warm years, it can happen much sooner

👉 [Insert link to candy board recipe here]

Being proactive with feeding can prevent emergency situations later when temperatures fluctuate and nectar is unavailable.

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Bottom Line

Unseasonably warm winters change how bees behave—and how beekeepers should respond.

• Expect more activity and faster food consumption
• Be cautious with inspections and respect temperature limits
• Check food stores regularly
• Add candy boards or sugar blocks if needed
• Plan for earlier mite monitoring in spring

This winter may be unusual, but with careful observation and timely feeding, your hives can come through healthy, strong, and ready for a productive spring season.