> Winters are dry when it is cold (-15C this morning) and damp when
 > only "cool", around freezing. Being better able to dry out when
 > cool is a point I lost trying to make the hive more efficient for
 > heat retention.

Dryness is fine in winter as long as the bees have enough water to
function.  When the bees are tightly clustered and unable to occupy
the whole hive in winter, I leave the hives open, but do use
reducers in spring once brood rearing gets underway in earnest,
temperatures are milder, and the bees can occupy more of the hive.

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