Niseko Now: Monday 12th February 2018
- Feb 12, 2018
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 954cm
Posted on Monday 12th February 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
This feels a bit more like it!
While there's not a huge amount of snow to report from here at base (14cm), I suspect there's going to be a fair bit more higher up and there'll be more in places lower down too as wind has probably been a factor, blowing it about. Really nice quality snow though and it is very cold this morning. Wrapping up appropriately will be especially important today.
As of 8am it is snowing quite nicely too and forecast to continue so things are looking good. Some lifts were affected by strong winds yesterday and wind might well be an issue over the next few days as well. Visibility is looking very limited as well (and increasingly so over the last 30 minutes as I have been putting this report together).
I have updated things as they are at 8:30am in the bit below but best to keep an eye on the live conditions with the resorts.
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Sunday is typically the day when my reports gets read the least. I'm suitably outraged! And Monday is typically when they get read the most. Or so I hear.
And so forgive me for copy-pasting something that I posted yesterday, as I'd like some of those naughty people who didn't tune in yesterday to see it. Here goes:
It's busy-busy-busy here at the moment. I went out to meet a some friends for a few drinks last night and was reminded at just how busy Hirafu can get, particularly in this peak part of the season. I usually don't venture out in the evening during this period - one less person at the bar is probably better for everyone! There's certainly a party atmosphere though, and everyone where I was seemed to be having a blast.
And with the Chinese New Year holidays from this week, things are being ramped up that bit more.
This year Chinese New Year is on 16th February - please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the festival period lasts for 15 days from Chinese New Year Eve to Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year with holidays from 15th-21st February.
The slopes, the bars, the restaurants... are going to be busy! Planning for all these things is recommended.
Here's to large doses of fun (and fresh snow) for everyone.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -12°, wind blown snow, 10cm new snow, snowdrift development. Moiwa 800m: -15°, NW19m/s, major cornice and snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -18°, WSW20m/s, 20cm new snow, snowdrift development. Hirafu 1250m: -19°, strong gusty westerly winds, 10cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:WNW19m/s. Kamui Cape: WSW16m/s, 1002hPa, wave 2.6m.
A typical winter weather pattern has returned, the base of the mountain is experiencing a snowstorm, new snowdrift growth is fracturing easily on the layer of low pressure snowfall from Feb10-11th and the avalanche risk is very high. Osawa elevation 800-1000m there is possibility of surface generated avalanche with fracture face more than 60cm. Danger is similar on all SE facing slopes and other slopes where rapid snowdrift growth from the strong wind has occurred. All top gates will be closed, do not duck ropes to go out of bounds.
Most avalanche accidents occur on leeward snowdrift slopes during bad weather. Strong wind and snow can cause extremely rapid cornice and snowdrift growth in a short time. Even though the amount of new snow is small, when conditions are right an avalanche will occur. Do not disregard the danger of the storm. Isobars do not tell a lie. Have a safe day.
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Monday 12th February 2018
Resort specific information (operations subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts (apart from King Number 2) should be operating
- Top Ace Number 4 and King Number 4 lifts on hold at start of the day due to strong winds and poor visibility
Official snow depth:
- Top: 430cm
- Base: 215cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts should be operating
- Top Jumbo Number 4 lift on hold at start of the day due to strong winds and poor visibility
- The Gondola might be delayed by about 30 minutes
Official snow depth:
- Top: 360cm
- Base: 230cm
Niseko Village
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts (apart from the Country Road Chair lift) should be operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 360cm
- Base: 230cm
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Monday 12th February 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 954cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 72 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (31st December) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 406cm reported on 27 days January 2018 snowfall 305cm reported on 26 days February 2018 snowfall 55cm reported on 8 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.