Niseko Now: Tuesday 12th December 2017
- Dec 12, 2017
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 288cm
Posted on Tuesday 12th December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Yesterday wasn't very excite. It was rather mild and rather wet. But happily that is behind us now.
When I got up this morning things weren't looking particularly exciting with just a dusting of just under 1cm of snow on the ground.
But it was quite noticeably much colder than yesterday, and as I am writing this report snow is coming down nicely. (So my fresh snowfall number for the report is 2cm).
There's going to be some windy conditions today though at the start of the day lift operations appear to be proceeding as planned, as well as limited visibility with more snow piling up during the day today and tomorrow.
Things should be good again once this storm passes.
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One (actually two) thing(s) I feel I should mention this morning.
If you are driving, be especially careful this morning. It looks pretty dangerous out there. Best to be on the extra careful side.
And if you are skiing or snowboarding, I imagine there's just that thin layer of snowfall on the hard icy conditions that yesterdays weather dealt us. What's the term, dust on crust?
Let's careful riding.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -6°, light winds and snow. Moiwa 800m : -10°, SW8m/s, 10cm new snow, no snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -12°,SW20m/s, new snow all blown away. Hirafu: 1000m, -14°, trace new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:WNW17m/s. Kamui Cape SW18m/s, 995hPa, wave 2.4m.
The isobaric lines have moved closer together and the westerly wind has become strong. Although not much snow has fallen, snow drift development is progressing rapidly above 1100m. From this mornings observation, leeward slopes above 800m are easily fracturing. The avalanche risk will increase through the day. Below 700m, yesterdays tracks are frozen from the warm weather yesterday, not good riding. Be careful on lift lines, cliffs and 40deg slopes, surface avalanches will fracture easily on Dec 11 layer. Avalanches occur if conditions are right regardless of the amount of snow, accidents happen only when people are involved.
Blizzards can quickly create unstable snowdrifts and cornices. Many accidents occur on leeward slopes during blizzards. After today's storm passes, the snow will stabilise..
Do not duck ropes to enter Strictly Off Limits south facing slopes like Haru no Taki. Niseko Rules are there to try and prevent accidents while giving you freedom to ride out of bounds.
The mountain will be better after the storm passes, be patient today. Be careful of frostbite. Have a good day.
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Tuesday 12th December 2017
What's planned to be open today in Niseko (subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts operating:
- Ace Number 3 Pair lift
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad lift (nighta)
- Ace Family quad lift (nighta)
- King Number 3 quad lift
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair lift
- Swinging Monkey
* All courses are open apart from Large and Dynamic.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad lift
- Hanazono Number 2 quad lift
- Hanazono Number 3 quad lift
* All lifts are operating
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift (nighta)
- Jumbo Number 2 quad lift
- Dream Number 1 quad lift
* Utopia, Shirakaba, Silver, Panorama, "S" ji, Paradise, Family, Dynamic and Junior courses are open.
Niseko Village
Lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Banzai Chair
- Community Chair (nighta)
- Upper Village Gondola (nighta)
- Village Express (nighta)
* Top of Gondola to base is skiable.
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Official resort snow depths on Tuesday 12th December 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 215cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Top - 135cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Village
Top - 145cm
Base - 80cm
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Floodlit 'nighta' skiing:
Scheduled daily at Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri.
There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Tuesday 12th December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 288cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 22 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 29cm (20th November) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 100cm 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.