Hakuba Now: Tuesday 31st January 2023
- Jan 31, 2023
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Hakuba region of Nagano
New snowfall at base 26cm
Snowfall at base this season 342cm
Posted on Tuesday 31st January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Hakuba Now report can be found here.
We enjoyed some heavy snow at times during the day yesterday. Some strong winds came with it and was blowing it around too, but it was great to see those big flakes coming down at that rate. Early afternoon saw the most intense and visibility was very poor in places. It had mostly eased off by evening.
Cortina reporting 37cm fresh snow at base since yesterday. Happo-one reporting 50cm up at Kurobishi (1680m).
This morning there's a lot of cloud around but there's clearer skies above it. Check the sea of cloud photo from Happo-one below.
It feels like the cloud will at least partly clear and indeed there is some sun shining down at base right now.
More snow due tomorrow, possibly after a clear start.
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When I posted the report yesterday, I had not yet heard about the terrible incident over in the backcountry at Tsugaike on Sunday afternoon. I believe it was on the east side of Hakuba Norikura-dake. From what I can gather, a number of people in a few groups got caught up in an avalanche over there with five people actually caught in the avalanche itself. Three escaped while two were missing. A search began yesterday morning, but unfortunately it seems that those two people have been found and have lost their lives.
There had been a lot of snow over in that region in the days previous, and no doubt there were quite a few people excited about making their way into that popular area.
It is of course very sad to hear such news and thoughts with family and friends.
Perhaps we can take this very sobering event as a reminder of the dangers that are close-by in the mountains. Do take care everyone, especially if you are venturing out into the more adventurous areas. Be prepared - gear and mind - and be sure to go with someone with knowledge and experience.
* I am not qualified to talk about avalanche details, so I won't.
Update:
This morning it has been widely reported that one of the people who lost their lives in the avalanche was a US freestyle skier and former ski halfpipe world champion. Clearly, such an individual was a highly experienced and skilled skier, perhaps demonstrating that even those things is sometimes not enough.
:(
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Total snowfall accumulation this season so far (in upper areas)
[The information below is manually checked with official sources and updated every morning]
ABLE Hakuba Goryu: 436cm
Hakuba 47: 408cm
Hakuba Happo-one: 385cm
Hakuba Cortina: 497cm
Tsugaike Mountain Resort: 405cm
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ABLE Hakuba Goryu
Reported snowfall:
Upper: 15cm (Alps Daira)
Official snow depth:
Upper: 280cm
Toomi: 110cm
Hakuba 47
Reported snowfall since last night:
Upper: 15cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth:
Top: 280cm
Base: 160cm
Hakuba Cortina
Base: 37cm
Official snow depth:
230cm
Hakuba Happo-one
Reported snowfall:
Kurobishi: 50cm
Usagidaira: 25cm
Top of Riesen quad: 10cm (social media)
Nakiyama: 0cm (!)
Official snow depth:
Kurobishi: 350cm
Usagidaira: 156cm
Nakiyama: 105cm
Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field
Reported snowfall:
Mountain Side: 20cm
Village Side: 15cm
Official snow depth:
Mountain Side: 190cm
Village Side: 75cm
Hakuba Norikura Onsen
Official snow depth:
240cm
Jigatake
Official snow depth:
90cm
Kashimayari
Official snow depth:
130cm
Tsugaike Mountain Resort
Official snow depth:
Upper: 238cm
Lower: 110cm
White Resort Hakuba Sanosaka
Official snow depth:
105cm
Hakuba Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as Tuesday 31st January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 342cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 34 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (25th December) November 2022 snowfall 0cm December 2022 snowfall 164cm reported on 17 days January 2023 snowfall 178cm reported on 17 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Hakuba. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.