Niseko Now: Friday 10th February 2023
- Feb 10, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 804cm
Posted on Friday 10th February 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
After the disruption to lifts yesterday morning, it is much calmer this morning and we start the day with ski areas opening as planned.
It is an overcast morning and kind of dull looking and that is the weather we are expecting for the day. Light snow is actually falling in some places, but it is very light. Right now it is around -9C to -10C at base.
Oh yes, and some new snow - I have measured . From the Avalanche Report and what Hirafu and Hanazono are reporting, sounds like we might have up to 15-20cm of fresh snow in places on the mountain.
We might get to see the sun for part of tomorrow and then more snow is due on Sunday.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -7C, 20cm new snow in last 12hrs, calm. Moiwa800m: -10.3C, W0.7m/s, major cornice and snowdrift development, good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -13.6C, W4.2m/s, cornice and snowdrift development. Mizuno no Sawa top: -12.4C, N0.3m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -13.3C, N1.0m/s. Hanazono#3: -10.1C, NNE1.5m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW4m/s, Kamui cape SW4m/s, 1028hPa, 1.0m waves.
The seas and mountains are calm under a high pressure system. There is major snowdrift and cornice development on leeward slopes above 800m due to the wind and snow yesterday. From observation and tests, snowdrifts are starting to stabilise, however cat operator impact tests show a heavy wind slab,45cm at the top to 150cm at the bottom, breaking instantly over wide areas. The avalanche risk remains high on SE facing knolls and cornice slopes. Avoid riding Kozan no Sawa sidewall, Osawa cornice slope around 1000m and the HigashiOne cornice slope today. Also avoid getting into the bottom of creeks and gullies, these become avalanche paths. Avalanches are a natural occurrence and only become accidents if people are there. The slopes this morning will be good. This sport is dangerous, is your beacon on? Are you wearing a helmet? Have a good day.
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Ski area information for Friday 10th February 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 370cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 305cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 245cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 215cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 190cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Friday 10th February 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 804cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 69 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th & 28th January, 6th February) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm reported on 27 days February 2023 snowfall 119cm 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.