Niseko Now: Tuesday 11th January 2022
- Jan 11, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 525cm
Posted on Tuesday 11th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Just a bit of a dusting to report today, from yesterday.
It feels fairly cold early on but today is due to be relatively mild but then things are about to quickly change again. A storm is coming. It's due to start up from sometime this afternoon and maybe continue in some form through Friday. I imagine this is going to be one of those periods when we get a really decent amount of snow each day.
We are going to have to look out for wind too, though, and maybe even this afternoon. Actually, as lifts start for the morning at 8:30am, I can see that the top lifts at Hirafu, Village and Annupuri are all on hold. So it looks like it might have started up there already...
Let's see what Nature has in store for us!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, 1cm new snow, calm. Moiwa800m: -7℃, calm, 1cm snow, no new snowdrifts. Annupuri1150m: -7℃, calm, light dusting, southerly wind picking up. Hirafu peak ridge: -9℃, thin new snow, SSE15m/s. Coastal data Benkei cape: S8m/s, Kamui cape: E3m/s, 1013hPa, 0.6m waves.
A southerly wind is forecasted to pick up before noon and the weather will deteriorate. The overall avalanche risk is low in the morning, but will drastically change as the snowfall and wind pick up and new snow-slabs start to form. A relatively large-scale glide avalanche occurred in the Mikaeri bowl area yesterday. The most probable cause for it is the depth-hoar near the ground formed due to small snowfall, cold and sun factors during early winter. Cracks forming at this time of the season usually don’t end up into a glide avalanche, however it seems a little different this season. It is highly recommended to stay away from cracked slopes in all elevations as large avalanches sliding from frozen sasa-bamboo or ground level is expected. All areas outside the gates are not controlled or managed by the resorts. It is surely an attractive terrain, however it is also true that there are many hazards out there. Always be prudent and never underestimate the risks. Avalanches are natural phenomenon but only become an accident when a person is caught in one. Gates opening is undecided. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. The snow is good today.
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Planned ski area operations: Tuesday 11th January 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm (-5cm)
- Base: 150cm (-5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 245cm (-5cm)
- Base: 178cm (-2cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 9cm
- Base: 8cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm (no change)
- Base: 155cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- All lifts operating
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm +20cm
- Base: 160cm +20
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
- Observation: This data does not appear to be updated every day
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Tuesday 11th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 525cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 40 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 133cm 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.