Niseko Now: Sunday 10th December 2017
- Dec 10, 2017
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 11cm
Snowfall at base this season 286cm
Posted on Sunday 10th December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Anyone get out for nighta last night? I spend a few hours on the slopes yesterday afternoon and then just a few lifts in the evening as I had to get ready for a 'drinking party' as my friends call them. Fine conditions, and really not many people around - it was great. As Christmas and the end of the year start to loom on the horizon, that not busy thing is set to be changing. It sure is great to be able to enjoy Niseko without the crowds though. Now I know what most other ski resorts in Japan feel like! ;)
A friend told me that Niseko Moiwa opened the top gate 6 yesterday too, though we are still generally waiting for the top lifts and gates to open for the season.
Anyway, onto this morning.
11cm of fresh snow for the totals and light snow is currently falling - it should be on and off today. As we get into tomorrow it seems we should expect relatively milder temps. I'm hoping we will avoid rain in lower areas and just keep on getting snow (obviously). But generally regular snowfall is there on the forecast Monday and Tuesday.
Have a fun Sunday wherever you are.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -6°, trace new snow in the last 12 hours, calm winds. Moiwa 800m light winds, -10°, 20cm new snow in last 12hours, snowdrift development overnight from westerly wind. Annupuri 1000m snowpack 135cm. Hirafu 1000m, -12°, light winds, no obvious snow drifting., 15cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NW8m/s. Kamui Cape WSW9m/s, 1015hPa, wave 1.2m.
Isobars are spaced widely and weather is calm. 20cm of new snowfall on the mountain in the last 24hours. Above 1000m a strong westerly wind(15m/s) around 3pm yesterday caused significant snowdrift and cornice growth. From this mornings observation snowpack is stable and general avalanche risk is low.
The Niseko Avalanche Report is compiled from snowfall transition and snowpack observation daily. Snow conditions can change dramatically in blizzards and bad weather, snowdrifts and snow depth can increase rapidly and surface avalanches can occur easily during these times.
Light winds under 10m/s snowdrifts development stagnates and stabilises, the general avalanche risk lowers. However avalanche risk also depends on slope direction, terrain and elevation.
Out of Bounds areas are not part of the ski resorts. We care about your safety out of bounds, don't duck ropes to ride out of bounds. The snow changes everyday, Have a good day.
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Sunday 10th December 2017
What's planned to be open today in Niseko (subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts operating:
- Ace Number 3 Pair lift
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad lift (nighta)
- Ace Family quad lift (nighta)
- King Number 3 quad lift
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair lift
- Swinging Monkey
* All courses are open apart from Large and Dynamic.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad lift
- Hanazono Number 2 quad lift
- Hanazono Number 3 quad lift
* All lifts are operating
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift (nighta)
- Jumbo Number 2 quad lift
- Dream Number 1 quad lift
* Utopia, Shirakaba, Silver, Paradise, Family, Dynamic and Junior courses are open.
Niseko Village
Lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Banzai Chair
- Community Chair (nighta)
- Upper Village Gondola (nighta)
- Village Express (nighta)
* Top of Gondola to base is skiable.
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Official resort snow depths on Sunday 10th December 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 220cm
Base - 90cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Top - 135cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Village
Top - 145cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Sunday 10th December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 286cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 21 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 29cm (20th November) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 98cm reported on 10 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. 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.