Daily reports
from Hakuba
Last Updated:
Saturday 4th February 2012, 7:32AM
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New snowfall:
3 to 5 cm (village)
Previous day:
300cm
Snow depth:
150cm (Village); 305cm (Top of Goryu)
Temp bottom:
-7C
Temp top:
-10C
Weather:
Cloudy and snowing
Wind condition:
Slight wind
Visibility:
Poor to Variable
Lift operation:
See main report for details.
Saturday 4th February 2012, 7:32AM
Weather conditions:
Cloudy and snowing
New snowfall:
3 to 5 cm (village)
Report:
It is currently snowing at about 2cm per hour and should continue with consistent snowfall throughout the day. Yesterday we saw some bright blue skies and sunshine for the majority of the day. It was quite the change from the stormy weather we have been getting. Winds have affected the ski resorts with wind packed crust on many exposed ridges and pistes. But this new dusting will help soften up the terrain everywhere.
This morning the valley temperature is -6.5 C in the valley maintaining the cold trend from this week. Freezing levels are rising over the next couple of days but will remain mild through today. We are expecting a range between -2 C and -4 C with a wind chill making it feel like -11 C. Winds will get up to 4m/s and will run from the WSW, W and NW.
5cm of new snow has been reported on the resorts this morning adding to the great 3m plus base that we have on the resorts throughout the valley. At the moment, visibility is poor and a cloud layer should stick around all day.
The forecast is looking like a warming trend for the next two days which will provide us with some sunshine. There is even a chance of some rain late Monday into Tuesday so fingers crossed we miss out on that particular event. It should be back to snow by late Tuesday and from Wednesday though, as it cools back down and a new weather system makes its way in.
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HAKUBA / OTARI BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL ADVISORY:
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible; Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.
Thaw crust will be present on east and south aspects after yesterday's slight warming and strong solar radiation. These crusts will be most prominent at lower elevations and steep southern slopes. Surface hoar and near surface faceting is present on more shaded slopes where radiated heat loss was prevalent during clear skies at night and through the days due to the low temps. Areas lower in elevation that did not receive as much wind as higher elevations and close to water sources in the valley will see greater facet creation.
Today's new snow may collect enough to cause small loose slides later in the day. Stay clear of steep slopes with scouring around ridges and rocky outcrops that might have shallow areas that may be more reactive to skier and rider triggering from the persistent weak faceted melt freeze layer around the January 22nd thaw crust. Cornices have been getting big in the Alpine and at Tree Line and should be avoided. Stay to simple terrain away from steep convex slopes.
This low density surface snow combined with near surface faceting and hoar frost may produce a weak interface with the new snow falling today and continuing through to the weekend.
Expect the avalanche hazard to rise with new snow and wind affect.
There is still the possibility of very large slab avalanches at Tree Line and above. Take due care if traveling in the Hakuba and Otari backcountry.
AVALANCHE DANGER:
ALPINE: Considerable
TREE LINE: Considerable
BELOW TREE LINE: Moderate
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Official snow depths and operations @ Saturday 4th February 2012 AM:
Hakuba Goryu:
Goryu reported 5cm of new snow on upper slopes and a 1cm on lower slopes. All lifts operating.
Official snow depths:
Alps daira - 305cm;
Toomi - 160cm;
Iimori - 140cm.
Hakuba 47:
Hakuba 47 reported 5cm of snowfall earlier this morning. All lifts operating.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 236cm
Lower - 130cm
Happo-one:
Ski lifts/courses:
All lifts apart from Happo No1 pair, Central Pair and Kita One No3 lifts are operating today.
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira - 230cm;
Sakka - 150cm;
Nakiyama - 150cm.
Tsugaike Kogen:
Official snow depth:
Upper slopes - 290cm
Champion - 220cm
Hakuba Cortina:
Cortina was reporting 5cm of new snowfall this morning. All open.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 370cm
Lower - 270cm
Hakuba Norikura:
Official snow depth:
250cm
Hakuba Iwatake:
Official snow depth:
Upper - 170cm
Lower - 120cm
Hakuba Sanosaka:
160cm
Hakuba Minekata:
110cm
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Friday 3rd February 2012, 10:55AM
Weather conditions:
Cloud, partially sunny with blue skies
New snowfall:
3 to 5 cm (village)
Report:
After all of the snowfall for the last run of days, it finally looks like it has slowed down a bit today. It has been a really cold morning until now with a thin bright layer of cloud and above that lots of nice blue sky on show. The local weather report says that the temperature of valley is -7C this morning and highest of -4C today.
Goryu is reporting 15cm of new this morning with 300cm of base. Cortina Resort is reporting 5cm of new past 12 hours with -10C of temperature on the top.
The forecast is saying that we should be getting light snowfall tonight again, but it likely won't be anything major. It seems like we are in for a good, mellow weekend of weather with Sunday in particular the clearer of the two days.
Even though the weather has finally calmed down, this dosen't mean that avalanche dangers have gone away. We still have Avalanche caution in northern Nagano. Travelling alpine and above the tree line is not recommended.
Play safely out there.
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Official snow depths and operations @ Friday 3rd February 2012 AM:
Hakuba Goryu:
Goryu reported 15cm of new snow on upper slopes and a few cm on lower slopes. All weekday lifts operating (not Alps No2/4 lifts)
Official snow depths:
Alps daira - 305cm;
Toomi - 160cm;
Iimori - 140cm.
Hakuba 47:
Hakuba 47 reported 10cm of snowfall earlier this morning. All weekday lifts operating (not Line D).
Official snow depth:
Upper - 240cm
Lower - 130cm
Happo-one:
Ski lifts/courses:
All lifts apart from Usagidaira pair, Happo No1 pair, Central Pair and top Grad quad lifts are operating today.
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira - 220cm;
Sakka - 140cm;
Nakiyama - 140cm.
Tsugaike Kogen:
Official snow depth:
Upper slopes - 300cm
Champion - 260cm
Hakuba Cortina:
Cortina was reporting 30-45cm of new snowfall overnight and another 10cm this morning. Limited operations today - lifts 4,5 and 7 not moving.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 385cm
Lower - 295cm
Hakuba Norikura:
Official snow depth:
250cm
Hakuba Iwatake:
Official snow depth:
Upper - 170cm
Lower - 120cm
Hakuba Sanosaka:
155cm
Hakuba Minekata:
120cm
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Thursday 2nd February 2012, 1:50PM
Weather conditions:
Snow
New snowfall:
25-30 cm (village)
Report:
Well, it has been snowing for all of February so far! Hasn't really eased off at all since the report yesterday and this morning good old Hakuba Cortina contined clocking in the most snowfall with 45cm on the upper slopes and 30cm on lower slopes. Resorts around Hakuba village were, for example, this morning reporting 20-40cm (Goryu) and 25cm (Hakuba 47) of fresh snowfall. As you can see from the numbers below, those snow depths stats have really taken a jump up in the last couple of weeks as we got the heavy snow we were all hoping for.
It's still snowing now, and cold too as the temperatures remains firmly in the negative and only about -6 degrees in the village this early afternoon. Visibility is pretty poor down in the valley, never mind up on the mountains though looking at the webcams from some of the resorts it doesn't look too bad out there - at least you can see where you are going. But snow and cloud it is with a slight to moderate wind at times in places.
When will this snowfall end? For the time being, soon according to local forecasts that tell us that we might even see the sun tomorrow with generally clearer weather conditions over the weekend and things getting milder Saturday to Monday.
Goes without saying with all this new snow some awesome conditions at the moment. Plenty to go around, especially on a weekend - no need to go hunting far to find them. Enjoy and take care.
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Official snow depths and operations @ Thursday 2nd February 2012 AM:
Hakuba Goryu:
Goryu reported 40cm of new snow on upper slopes and 20cm on lower slopes earlier this morning. All weekday lifts operating (not Alps No2/4 lifts)
Official snow depths:
Alps daira - 300cm;
Toomi - 160cm;
Iimori - 140cm.
Hakuba 47:
Hakuba 47 reported another 25cm of snowfall this morning. All weekday lifts operating (not Line D).
Official snow depth:
Upper - 275cm
Lower - 130cm
Happo-one:
Ski lifts/courses:
All lifts apart from Usagidaira pair, Happo No1 pair and Central Pair operating today.
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira - 220cm;
Sakka - 140cm;
Nakiyama - 140cm.
Tsugaike Kogen:
Official snow depth:
Upper slopes - 300cm
Champion - 260cm
Hakuba Cortina:
Cortina was reporting 30-45cm of new snowfall overnight and another 10cm this morning. Limited operations today - lifts 4,5 and 7 not moving.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 385cm
Lower - 295cm
Hakuba Norikura:
Official snow depth:
250cm
Hakuba Iwatake:
Official snow depth:
Upper - 180cm
Lower - 120cm
Hakuba Sanosaka:
155cm
Hakuba Minekata:
120cm
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Other daily reports:
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