Niseko Now: Wednesday 10th February 2016
- Feb 10, 2016
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 13cm
Snowfall at base this season 725cm
Posted on Wednesday 10th February 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Wind affected things yesterday and were noisy overnight too (glad to see I still have a roof on the top of my house, I thought it was going to come off at times) and unfortunately they're also preventing top lifts from starting the day today as well.
The good news is that we have 12cm of fresh snow on the ground here near base. Watch out for the wind blowing it all around though, making for a less-and-more situation depending on where you are - that's apparent where I take my measurements each morning, but I think 12cm is a good reflection of the morning deposit.
Keep that in mind and take care with your tracks and also please be aware of the avalanche risk as laid out below in the Avalanche Report. Care and calm heads needed in these conditions.
The snow should be easing off later on in the day today and there's a chance of some sunshine tomorrow.
I would try to avoid looking at the forecast for Saturday if you can, because rain and warmth is looking likely - it might well be a good day to plan some other kind of sightseeing.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 5am: -5℃, 20cm broken crystal snowfall with development of snowdrifts. Moiwa 800m: -8℃, 20cm snowfall, snowdrift development and collapsing cornices. Mikaeri 740m: -6.8℃, W8.2m/s. Hirafu Peak: -9℃, strong wind and large development of snowdrifts. Annupuri 1000m: -8℃, intermittent snowfall with 20m/s gusts, large development of snowdrifts. Benkei cape: NNE14m/s, Kamui cape: N15m/s, 1009hPa, 3.8m wave height.
A northerly wind picked up as the Low passed. Drastic development of snowdrift on top of yesterday’s graupel and broken crystal snow layer. These newly formed slabs easily transmit stimulation and collapsing lego-blocks like chunks of 50cm thickness has been observed this morning.
Avalanche risk today is extreme. Gates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be closed.
The wind would calm down and the lifts would start operating, but the hazard level will remain high a while after. Annupuri Osawa bowl, Mikaeri bowl, Higashi-One cornice slopes, Back bowl sidewalls are all time danger zone today. 50cm or bigger slab slides are to be expected. Do not duck ropes to head to those areas.
Most accidents occur during and just after storms. Better stay inbounds today. A little heavy, wind-affected snow has blanketed the tree runs; overall good conditions. Beware of small but heavy enough slides occurring under steep lift lines. The snow conditions is ever-changing. Have a nice day.
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Official resort snow depths as of Wednesday 10th February 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 340cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Village
Top - 310cm
Base - 180cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 330cm
Base - 180cm
Niseko Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Wednesday 10th February 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 725cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (17th January) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 303cm reported on 26 days February 2016 snowfall 117cm reported on 9 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.