> >>I went out to check on my hives before an up coming storm and I noticed
> >>approx. 2 doz. bees rolling around in the snow.
>
Reply:  I question the conditions just prior to your discovery. Was it
warm enough for the hive to have broken cluster and make cleansing
flight?  Are your hives situated in such a manner to be much warmer than
normal surroundings,hives wrapped in black or painted black? In such case it
might be possible for some to rush out and not return to the bottom board
after bee'ing individually quick frozen by the true exterior
temperatures.  Give us more info about these bees that you saw building a
snow fort!!!
Regards,
Maynard...