Niseko Now: Wednesday 11th January 2017
- Jan 11, 2017
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 311cm
Posted on Wednesday 11th January 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
And it is an extremely cold one too. Feels like the coldest of the season to me for sure. -10 degrees my thermometer was saying.
There is new snow out there, I measure just over 8cm, which is very nice though personally I wouldn't imagine it to be enough to properly cover that harder layer that we've been gliding on over the last few days. Perhaps there's much more higher up. Whatever, the next few days should see to that with decent snowfall still showing on the forecast. Snow is expected to continue falling throughout the day today and tomorrow. And hopefully beyond that.
It is going to be windy too and we can expect lift disruption - at the start of the day the top lifts at Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri are on hold. Usually I'd be a bit put out by that, and I can certainly sympathise with the good folk visiting Niseko for their holidays just at this moment. But I think we would all agree with the real need of lots of fresh snow and a run of days of stormy conditions. Let's hope disruption is kept to a minimum.
There's lots of people out early this morning eager to claim first tracks this morning. I'm going to join them soon.
---
Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -11℃, 10cm new snow. Moiwa850m: -12℃, W15m/s, cornice and snowdrifts developing. Annupuri1150m: -19℃, W24m/s, 70cm snowdrifts. Hirafu1250m: -18℃, NW15m/s, snowdrifts developing. Kamui cape lighthouse: W13m/s, 1007hPa, 2.6m waves.
The current strong wintery pressure system is bringing cold air and strong westerly wind. The gates’ opening is yet to be decided, please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. The snow below tree level has been reset and in good shape. The storm is forecasted to pick up and make the snowdrifts and cornices drastically grow. The avalanche risk is already high and will rise accordingly. Most avalanche accidents occur in leeward heavily snow-loaded slopes during strong storms. Today’s conditions are different from yesterday’s. Make conservative decisions today.
A guided tour tried to walk over the net of the closed Gate 6 yesterday afternoon. Moiwa may not be within the Niseko United group, but is strictly conforming the Niseko Rules. Anyone disregarding the Rules will be refused to use the resort premises. The freedom to ride out of bounds and the guiding business relying on that can only be guaranteed by abiding the Rules. Better not make light of them.
Beware of frostbites.
---
Resort specific opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
The top Ace Number 4 and King Number 4 lifts are on hold due to wind conditions.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
All three lifts appear to be opening as planned.
Niseko Village
The top Wonderland Chair lift is on hold due to wind conditions and the Gondola is running at reduced speed.
Niseko Annupuri
The Gondola and top Jumbo Number 4 lifts are on hold due to wind conditions.
---
Official resort snow depths as of Wednesday 11th January 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 250cm
Base - 100cm
Niseko Village
Top - 150cm
Base - 100cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 155cm
Base - 95cm
---
Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Wednesday 11th January 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 311cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 40 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 20cm reported on 4 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.