Niseko Now: Monday 12th March 2018
- Mar 12, 2018
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 5cm
Snowfall at base this season 1239cm
Posted on Monday 12th March 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello and good morning. Monday morning once again.
And I am happy to be able to bring you news of fresh snowfall on the ground at base. I have just about 5cm to report and it is still snowing now as I am putting this report together.
There's not much wind that I can tell and not being reported by the ski resorts either so I would expect everywhere to be open as well as the gates.
We might even get some sunshine today so it should be a decent day.
Warmer temperatures are likely tomorrow along with the chance of some rain, so keep an eye on that if you are making cunning plans for the next few days.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -2℃, 5cm snowfall. Moiwa800m: -3.7℃, NW0.5m/s, Annupuri 1000m snowpack 440cm. Hirafu peak: -5℃, light wind, 5cm snowfall. Benkei cape N13m/s, Kamui cape NNE8m/s, 1016hPa, 0.6m waves.
A small low-pressure passed and brought cold air inflow with snowfall from the north. The mountain is blanketed with a thin layer of new snow. Visibility is pretty bad in some spots up above 1000m as cold/warm air mass is relocating. The overall avalanche risk is low, all gates are expected to open. Please listen to the patrol’s advice and be well prepared before stepping out of bounds. The snow underneath the new snow can be a bit tricky to ski, please be careful.
Many cracks are forming in south facing steep/cliff slopes in all elevation. Glide avalanche hazard is raising especially in Hirafu O-hiroma, Haru no Taki, Mikaeri bowl naka-one area. Glide avalanches due to temperature variation could also occur suddenly, even without any prominent cracks, in far-Higashi One, Backbowl and upper Osawa. Better not stay put under steep slopes and at valley bottoms.
The snow in the trees is pretty good. Thin surface slab slides may occur in open steep faces. Please stay vigilant anytime. Have a nice day.
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Monday 12th March 2018
Resort specific information (operations subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned
Official snow depth:
- Top: 500cm
- Base: 210cm
Niseko Annupuri
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned
Official snow depth:
- Top: 450cm
- Base: 240cm
Niseko Village
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned (Country Road Chair lift not operating)
Official snow depth:
- Top: 430cm
- Base: 230cm
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Monday 12th March 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 1239cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 94 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 299cm reported on 24 days March 2018 snowfall 41cm reported on 6 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.