"This is scary i agree with the notch down also?? 
Mainly because of the need for a top entrance when we have deep S--- and for ventilation. There have been many times the S--- stayed on for weeks at a time.I don't know if they have that problem in NC. ? Jen, i'm curious why you wrap your hives in California 
Jack"i'm with jack......scary isn't it?..........
today, after our recent snowfalls and freezing temps, the front entrance was ice and snow covered. a small critter had dug away at the front entrance, no footprints? but the bees had tried to carry out the dead, a pile in front and blocking the entrance. i cleared the ice and snow away, and the dead bees. my bees are not using the top entrance right now, as they are in the bottom deep, but in the near future they will be using the top entrance in my inner cover, at that point i won't be too concerned about the bottom. the bottom deep will get clogged up with dead bees on the bottom board and so will the entrance reducer. the only thing i do is from time to time clear the snow away, clear out bees blocking the entrance reducer, and when weather warms, i use a slim jim to clear the floor of the bottom deep, usually not until early spring.
jen, like jack, not really sure you need to wrap hives in your climate? only you can decide.
snowbirds? well i am a snowbird alright.......dang silly snowbird trudging around in 7" of snow and checking a hive at 0 degrees with a stethoscope, and hefting the backside of it, then taking the 4 wheel horse out for a 20 minute ride to keep the battery charged so i don't have to put a trickle charger on it......
