Niseko Now: Friday 13th February 2015
- Feb 13, 2015
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 922cm
Posted on Friday 13th February 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello and good morning from the Niseko area here on this Friday morning.
Just a few cm of snowfall to report to you this morning. It's cloudy and light snow has been falling - not the kind right now that is going to bring in big numbers, but it's forecast to get heavier during the day today with hopefully heavy snow overnight tonight and the snow continuing over the weekend and perhaps into early next week.
It's busy, busy here now - peak of the peak season and the Chinese New Year holidays.
All resorts look to be open as normal this morning, so another fun day ahead.
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So far this month I have logged a total of 116cm as my observed snowfall. Last February for the whole month the corresponding observed number here at base was 178cm, which was if I remember correctly somewhat disappointing (even given the fact that we always want more!)
We're not halfway through the month yet so still a long way to go. Lots of regular fresh snow please!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -7C, light breeze, 2cm snowfall. Moiwa 800m: light breeze, -10C, light dusts. Hirafu 1000m: W7m/s, -10C. Peak 1308m: northerly, speed n/a, -10.9C. Coastal data: Benkei cape S3m/s, Kamui cape WSW8m/s, 1005hPa, 0.8m waves.
The snowpack above Feb 7th layer is now mostly stable and the general avalanche risk is low. Peak gates 2 & 3 are scheduled to open. Listen to the ski patrol’s instruction and be prepared before stepping out of the gates. Traversing under cornices is total lack of common sense; we wonder if those who do have ever imagined the consequences and the risks they’re taking. The past avalanche accidents in Niseko have all been triggered by those nonsense traverses. Avalanches don’t happen all the time, but will do when the conditions allow. You might luckily get away, but people who follow your track may be caught in one. You are morally responsible of the results. There are so many people visiting Niseko; whether being a total beginner or experienced mountain skier, the value of one Life is equally precious. We beg you to, please, not make those awful traverse track from gate no.2 across O-sawa (Annupuri bowl) to the Western Ridge. Have a nice day.
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Official resort snow depths:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 430cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 300cm
Base - 190cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 335cm
Base - 200cm
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Friday 13th February 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 922cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 63 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (15th & 26th December and 11th February) November 2014 snowfall 30cm reported on 5 days December 2014 snowfall 519cm reported on 25 days January 2015 snowfall 257cm reported on 23 days February 2015 snowfall 116cm 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.