Hokkaidough 4 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I'm trying to forget all talk of rain and looking forward to more heavy snow. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Originally Posted By: muikabochi Just looked back at the Yuzawa reports which is interesting Feb 13th 09: 230cm at Kagura 160cm at Gala Yuzawa 100cm at Iwappara 160cm at Kandatsu Feb 15th 08: 320cm at Kagura 230cm at Gala Yuzawa 280cm at Iwappara 290cm at Kandatsu Feb 15th 07: 220cm at Kagura 150cm at Gala Yuzawa 100cm at Iwappara 120cm at Kandatsu It feels like there is much less than there ever has been and I certainly have never seen as little outside my house (currently less than 30cm). So it is interesting that the snow depths are quite comparable to 2 years ago. Wonder how that can be explained....... Yeah, Check 06 and you'll see a HUGE snowpack. We've had alternating good and bad years for the past four. I recall 3 years ago being the worst. Places further south west had to close down by the end of February when they would normally have a 2 meter snowpack. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Yes interesting Muikabochi, maybe goes in cycles, for sure no two years are likely to be the same and for there to be really heavy snow every year is also unlikely, but interesting to see how two different years have almost the same depths! Oh well guess we will know in about another 6 weeks or so how this winter actually did turn out. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 My main point I suppose was that while the snow depths at the resorts are fairly similar this year and 2 years ago, the snow depth outside my house is way way lower than it was 2 years ago (think 30cm compared with 150cm). That I find curious and having difficulty explaining it. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I see what you mean, yes that is strange why the snow depths outside your house is so low. Only thing I can think of is the slopes themselves seem to maintain the snow depths better than for example an open field as the snow on the slopes is groomed and compressed and of course making it more harder and more concentrated, thus it doesn't melt so easily where as snow just laying on an open field is of course compressed to a certain degree by new snow, but not by human weight, machines etc, so naturally there are more air pockets in the snow, making it easier for the sun to penetrate through the surface and melt it, this is just my theory behind it, no idea if what I said is right, just my theory though. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 That is curious! What about the next valley or around the other side of the mountain? sometimes even 5 km may make a difference snowing or not? Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I see what you mean. I'm surprised though, actually. I remember two years ago being really warm without much snow. (But of course, I live on Shikoku so it's like that every year. Ha ha) Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 With there being almost no decent new snowfall since new year (where you are anyway muika), and lots of mild temperatures and a fair splashing of rain now and then, I would suggest also that perhaps there are a few porkies being told by resorts. It always makes me chuckle how quick they are to add to snow depths when it snows but how hesitant they seem to be to decrease them. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 There's no doubt in my mind that there is much less than usual round where I live. Which is 15 minutes to the north of Yuzawa. Right now other than the rice field opposite my house, there is no snow at all round the house and by the road where usually mid-winter there is a big few metres high wall of snow. Can't remember exactly what it was 2 years ago, but it certainly wasn't like it is right now. Quote: What about the next valley or around the other side of the mountain? Yuzawa doesn't have much more than here I reckon. The town anyway... high up at Kagura seems ok but I'm not there often so I can't really compare it. But it definitely seems to be that being high up is really important this season. In this region anyway. All interesting! Perhaps one of the more knowledgeable people on this subject might have a more reasoned explanation. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Originally Posted By: joshnii I would suggest also that perhaps there are a few porkies being told by resorts. Yes couldn't agree with you more, I know for example that Koumi Rex in Nagano doesn't have the reported 75cm of snow, more like 30-40cm absolute max, why I know this is because I was there three days ago! It has been said by many that Japanese resorts don't correctly report the true depths, because if they report too much it scares the Japanese away because they think they can't get there or will disapear in all the snow and if too little well of course no one will want to go! Certainly I think a lot of us notice that the true depths of snow are quite different from the reported depths! Japan is very diverse though, there certainly can be a huge difference in snow depths and quality in just a mere few kilometres and the next mountain can be quite different. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 A distance of much less than 5km can make a big difference, even at the same altitude. The valley in Hakuba is less than a kilometer wide in places, but that is definitely noticable. Snow forecast.com forecast a minimum of 10C and rain to the summit for Hakuba tonight, but its only 4C out there now. It is raining like mad though. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 That sucks! real downer when it snows a little and get light cover and the next day it's pissing down... happens here, too. I just shoveled our driveway ...and now it's coming down heavier.. ooooooh Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Never mind light cover and no rain - we want DEEP COVER. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 23.6 degrees in Itoigawa today (the southern part of Niigata to the north of Hakuba on the map). Come back winter! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Don't worry I reckon it's coming back for much of the rest of Feb. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Off up to Niigata next week so I sure as heck hope you are right. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Fingers crossed. On for that Hakkai-san trip gg? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 gg - had the snow today at Yuzawa - puking ALL day long. Big fluffy flakes of the stuff - from morning till 5pm hopefully it'll be the first of many more Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted February 18, 2009 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted February 18, 2009 That is good to hear. During the daytime yesterday there was just 1cm of snow on my car that had been parked from 9am to 4pm (in Yuzawa). This morning there has just been a sprinkling overnight. It is actually snowing more out in Minamiuonuma than in Yuzawa by the looks. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 You must have been up in the bowl area, Rob (?) Wasn't snowing heavily hard in town and the result of the snowfall was only a couple cm. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Yeah was up in the bowl pretty much all day - on the gungun and suisui runs, was going to try the zuluzulu run (wanted to get all the sounds) as there was sooo much powder, and was also pretty empty. Dropped down to centre leisure in the afternoon and was puking down there as well in the mid-afternoon, then back up to the ranran course to finish off, with some very very tired legs afterwards. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Just goes to show the pattern that we are unfortunately getting this year - it's finding it hard to snow much at lower levels where it usually dumps on us. Good to hear the upper slopes were good though. Did you like Maiko? Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Back to the thread title? Is there? Sure not in the next week looking at the Niigata forecast. What a rubbish season it's been in terms of snowfall - light and rare. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Hokkaido is looking ok over the next week. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Anything we non-Hokkaidos might be keen to know. Link to post Share on other sites
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