Niseko Now: Friday 12th January 2024
- Jan 12, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 12cm
Snowfall at base this season 543cm
Posted on Friday 12th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It is (still) snowing and I have another 12cm of snowfall to add to this report.
Visibility looks kind of varied, more limited higher up.
The snowfall is probably going to continue on and off into early next week, perhaps the heaviest due around Monday.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 5am: -2°, light winds, 10cm wet new snow. Moiwa 800m: -10.5, °NW1.7m/s(max S12m/s @ 12am), poor visibility. Mikaeri 764m: -4°, strong west wind, bad visibility, increasing snowpack. Annupuri 1100m: -5.7°, W3.0m/s(max S20m/s @ 12am), visibility 400m, 15cm wet snow. Village 1000: -4.5°, WNW2.6m/s. Hanazono 1000m: -5.1°, E2.9m/s(max S22m/s @ 12am). Hanazono 3 : -3.2°, NE2.6m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NNW13m/s(S20m/s @12am). Kamui Cape W10m/s, 1002hPa, wave 1.2m.
A front passed through around midnight with strong southerly winds and wet snow causing cornice and snowdrift development. The wind shifted to the west at dawn、light wind and snow continue above 800m. Hanazono Gate 9 is expected to open today. Other gates are still to be decided. Please respect the patrols decisions. A correction to yesterdays information: The avalanche reported 2 days days ago was on the SE open slope of Chisenupuri, not Nitonupuri, however still rider induced. During periods of strong wind and snow, fresh slabs (drifts, thick snow sheets) can easily break regardless whether there is a weak layer or not. Do not ride these slopes carelessly. From data and observations, there is a possibility of avalanche under cornices and around knolls today as well. The snow changes every day. Do not hang around in creek gullies or the bottom of valleys, these are an avalanche path. Do not traverse the top of steep slopes, it can cause an accident. Avalanches are a natural phenomenon, but accidents are caused by humans. This information is provided to prevent accidents in Niseko. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Friday 12th January 2024
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 130cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- All lifts operating apart from Ace Number 1 pair, King Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad
- The Ace Family quad, Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four), Hirafu Gondola and Holiday Number 1 pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: ?cm
- Base: ?cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm
- Base: 195cm
Lifts:
- All lifts operating
- The Hanazono Symphony Gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- All lifts operating apart from Jumbo Number 4 pair
- The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 255cm
- Base: 155cm
Lifts:
- All lifts operating apart from Morino Chair and Country Road
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- All lifts operating
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Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Friday 12th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 543cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 45 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 62cm (8th January) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 176cm reported on 10 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.