Niseko Now: Wednesday 10th January 2024
- Jan 10, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 16cm
Snowfall at base this season 519cm
Posted on Wednesday 10th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I am pleased to report more fresh snow again this morning. This morning my measurement (24 hours since 8:30am yesterday) was 16cm. Very nice.
Forecasts show consistent snowfall across the coming week too.
It is a cold morning and visibility is varied but ranging from OK to poor depending on where you are. It seems windy out there and the Annupuri gondola isn't going to be open as scheduled because of that. The top Hirafu lift too and, I suppose, possibly more.
Some fine person asked about the top Jumbo Number 4 pair lift at Niseko Annupuri, wondering why it is not yet open. It is a good question. As far as I can tell, up until a few days ago, the reason was 'not enough snow'. But after the last few days of heavy snow, the reason changed to that there is 'too much snow'. Doh!
I imagine the ski area will be trying to open it as soon as they feel comfortable, and I have heard that it might be open by this weekend. But I don't know if that is the official thinking, and of course, the opening will, in the end, depend on weather and snow. Hopefully, pesky winds won't try to kick up a fuss.
(Hey, I know I have mentioned wind in todays report, but I feel like I haven't had to talk much about pesky winds this season so far. That's a good thing, of course).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -8C, 5cm/12h snowfall. Moiwa800m: -18.9C, NW9.5m/s, Snowdrifts 100-150cm in 12h, moderate visibility. Mikaeri 764m: -11C, NW15m/s, 250cm snowpack and snowdrifts developing. Annupuri 1000m: -15C, WNW7.0m/s. Niseko Village 1000m: -13.6C, WNW7.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -14.2C, SSE3.8m/s. Hanazono#3: -9.2C, ENE3.2m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW16m/s, Kamui cape W13m/s (max17@1:25am), 1011hPa, 2.2m waves.
Isobars remains moderately tight and westerly wind & snow are persisting on the seas and the mountains. Cornices and snowdrifts are still slowly developing in slopes above 800m elevation. Avalanche risk remains high in leeward slopes in the Backbowl and Nishi-One (west ridge), O-sawa (Annupuri bowl) 1000m cornice slopes, Higashi-One (East ridge) cornice slopes. Crusts, wind-ripples and snowdrifts are present in tree-runs below 800m. The avalanche risk is lowering, however traversing knolls or under cornices in above mentioned slopes could trigger an 80cm thick surface slope avalanche. Moiwa gate#6 & 10 are scheduled to open. Gate#3, 4 & 5 are being prepared to open tomorrow (11th). Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Mountain activities are inherently dangerous. There has been over 10 casualties caused by avalanches in this small mountain and nobody should forget or ignore that fact. Respect the Rules. Stay away from avalanche paths. Always be vigilant. The snow in the trees is in good shape. Beware of frostbites. Is you beacon turned on?
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Individual ski area information for Wednesday 10th January 2024
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm (no change cm since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm (no change cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 7:00pm)
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4 ** ON HOLD AT START OF DAY
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (until 7:00pm)
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 180cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola ** ON HOLD AT START OF DAY
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 7:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 255cm
- Base: 175cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Village Express (until 7:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
- Morino Chair
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 pair
- Quad
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Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Wednesday 10th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 519cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 43 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 62cm (8th January) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 152cm reported on 8 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.