Niseko Now: Wednesday 10th March 2021
- Mar 10, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 1191cm
Posted on Wednesday 10th March 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It is certainly a very different looking morning than yesterday.
The good news this morning is that it is snowing and there is a thin layer in base areas. (It's not peak winter quality snow and a bit... wet... but certainly better than full on rain).
It's a rather nasty kind of morning. Fog and poor visibility in places, wind.
Only lower base lifts are operating at the start the morning - no gondolas moving; it's rather limited.
Beyond today calmer and clearer skies are due once again so we should be back to more like normal.
It is a perfect morning for some good coffee and toast.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Coastal Data 6:25am. Cape Benkei:NW14m/s. Cape Kamui: WNW15m/s, 1008hPa, wave 1.5m. Hanazono 1000m: n/a. Hanazono 720: -2.8℃, WSW5.2m/s(6.00am/22m/s). Moiwa 800m: -3.2℃, W8.9m/s. Annupuri 1100m:-5.4℃, WSW12.6m/s(6.00am/28m/s). Mizuno no Sawa Top: -4.6℃, WSW7.3m/s. Kutchan Town: 0.1℃, S4.5m/s, 4cm snow in last 24hrs, snow depth 188cm. Moiwa Base 300m: -2℃, 10cm of wet snowfall, poor visibility.
There is stormy weather with the passing of a low pressure front at 2.00am with heavy crushed crystals of low pressure snowfall. Visibility above 800m is poor due to heavy fog and high winds. From observation snow drifts are fracturing at 40cm on 9 March layer. The avalanche risk on steep leeward slopes above 600m, knolls and under liftlines is high. Peak gates will be closed. Although the wind and snow are expected to drop off in early afternoon, from the snowfall transition and data evaluation the avalanche risk will remain high everywhere on the mountain for the rest of the day. A W20m/s blizzard is blowing above 1000m, best not to go out in that today. The isobars will space out tomorrow. Isobars never lie.
Spring is beginning in the mountains. To avoid getting hit by a huge full-thickness avalanche, stay out of the valleys in the bottom of Osawa and Kozan no Sawa at Annupuri. Wet snow is piled up on the groomed runs. The snow off piste is heavy but might be interesting. The trees are reset and should be fun to ride. Be careful hitting trees though. Make plans according to the conditions.
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 10th March 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning from official sources.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 490cm (+10cm)
- Base: 220cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 5 lifts today - Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, King Quad 3, King 4
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 7cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (+5cm)
- Base: 230cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 3 lifts today - Hanazono 1, 2 and 3
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Niseko Annupuri
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 340cm (+0cm)
- Base: 210cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 4 lifts today - all apart from Jumbo 2 and 3
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Niseko Village
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 341cm (+0cm)
- Base: 220cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 5 lifts today - Niseko Gondola, Village Express, Community, Banzai, Wonderland
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Night skiing has now finished for the 2020-2021 season.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Wednesday 10th March 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 1191cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 88 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 48cm (17th February) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 387cm reported on 27 days February 2021 snowfall 325cm reported on 24 days March 2021 snowfall 69cm reported on 6 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.