Niseko Now: Sunday 12th February 2023
- Feb 12, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 12cm
Snowfall at base this season 816cm
Posted on Sunday 12th February 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It feels a bit milder this morning (the ski areas are only reporting around -7C up top and it's about -2cm here at base.
I am happy to be able to report fresh snow too. I have just measured 12cm.
And it is snowing at the moment too, with more on the way over the coming days, along with colder temperatures.
There, that feels more like normal.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -1C, 15cm new snow, low pressure snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -4.2C, S2.8m/s, 15cm new snow, no snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -6.6C, WSW5.7m/s. Mizuno no Sawa top: -5.5C, WSW5.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -6.4C, WSW8.3m/s, 10cm new snow. Hanazono#3: -4.6C, SSW3.2m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape light wind, Kamui Cape WNW10m/s, 1019hPa, 1.0m waves.
10-15cm of low pressure snow falling overnight with the passing of a low pressure system. There has been only minor snowdrift and cornice development and tests showed no breakage. The general avalanche risk below 1000m is low and peak gates are expected to be open. Please follow the patrols advice. Because the isobars are spaced widely and there is little wind the groomers are in good condition and a relaxing ride. Beware that below 800m cracks are hidden by the new snow. Cracks form as tension in the slope is released, at the moment there is little chance of an avalanche. However the cracks are deep and cannot be seen from above. Beware on steep slopes towards the valleys, sometimes you can lose visibility. A W wind is expected to intensify, watch for a weather change. There is no safety in this sport. Only caution prevents accidents. Have a nice day, the snow is still good.
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Ski area information for Sunday 12th February 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Ace Number 4 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 295cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 235cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 215cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 195cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Sunday 12th February 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 816cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 70 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th & 28th January, 6th February) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm reported on 27 days February 2023 snowfall 131cm 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.