Niseko Now: Monday 11th January 2021
- Jan 11, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 18cm
Snowfall at base this season 615cm
Posted on Monday 11th January 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I was just looking at the report from Geto and that reported used the kind of words I was thinking about...
'At the risk of boring you', there's another 18cm of snow this morning on the ground that I have just measured, it is still snowing, and there's not much wind.
And all of the lifts that should be moving will be opening as normal.
I can't think of much more to say this morning. So with that, I will be back with you tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data. Cape Benkei:NW12m/s. Cape Kamui: W8m/s, 1017hPa, wave 1.2m. Hanazono 1000m: -15.3℃, WNW3.2m/s. Hanazono 720: -11.8℃, NNW5.4m/s. Moiwa: n/a. Annupuri 1100m: -15.8℃, WNW8.0m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -15.4, WSW2.6m/s. Mizuno no Sawa 900m: -14.4℃, WNW4.2m/s. Kutchan Town: -7.7℃,W3.8m/s, snow depth 165cm, 1018.6hPa. Moiwa base: -12, 10cm snowfall in last 12hrs, calm.
The winter type pressure pattern continues, with cold air flowing in. Below 1000m a 10m/s westerly is blowing, above 1000m wind is 15m/s with a little snow. SE facing slopes at 1100m cornices and snow drifts are slowly developing and becoming soft slabs. A 10 Jan layer has been formed from the variable winds and temperature changes. A dry snow avalanche is possible with a fracture face of 50cm from cornices collapsing or rider stimulation. Be careful on high elevation steep slopes with snowdrifts. From observation and data, the avalanche risk is decreasing on steep slopes below the tree line. However be careful on open slopes steeper than 30deg and 40 deg by creeks.
Yesterday's tracks are still visible but the snow is good. Peak gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols advice before going out of bounds. Kozan no Sawa(Back Bowl) side wall should not be ridden still. If an unstable snowdrift is triggered it could start a large avalanche in the bowl. Expect the fracture to be on 7 Jan layer, and this could take out the entire valley for over 1000m. Do not stop in the valley bottom.
Over 300cm of snowpack has built up on knolls in areas Haru no Taki, which carry the risk of a large scale avalanche due to the impact of solar radiation on deeper layers. Do not enter these restricted areas. Is your beacon turned on? Beware of hitting trees. You can't beat a tree, wear a helmet. Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 11th January 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm (+0cm)
- Base: 170cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All planned lifts operating (see note below)
- Ace Family Quad, Ace Number 2 Center Four lifts operate for night skiing
Courses:
- All courses open
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm (+5cm)
- Base: 175cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All three lifts operating
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm (+0cm)
- Base: 150cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts operating during the daytime
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+0cm)
- Base: 150cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All open apart from Upper Village Gondola, Morino and Country Road
- Village Express, Community Chair and Banzai Chair lifts operate for night skiing
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
The Ace Pair Number 1, 3 and 4, King Pair Number 1 lift and King Quad Number 2 lifts are being rested for the season at Niseko Grand Hirafu.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Monday 11th January 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 615cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 42 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 34cm (31st December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 205 cm reported on 11 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.