Niseko Now: Thursday 14th December 2017
- Dec 14, 2017
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 322cm
Posted on Thursday 14th December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It was an excellent day yesterday. There's not much more to say about that really; I'll keep my adjectives to myself.
It's not quite as cold this morning and things generally feel calmer and they should be during today and tomorrow. This morning I have 'just' 8cm of fresh snow to report since my last report.
The big question is -- with all this snow and regular snow on the forecast over the next week, when will those top lifts and gates (other than Gate 6 over at Moiwa) get opening up? Surely it will be soon. Still, there's so much to enjoy out there at the moment I'm feeling chilled about that.
The holiday period is fast approaching and so things are starting to gear up with lots more people going to be arriving over the next week. They'll surely be happy with what they find. Ho ho ho!
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -2°, 10cm new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m : -4.8°, N4.3m/s, 20cm new snow, snowdrift development. Annupuri: -7°,strong NE winds, blizzard conditions, very little new snow but large snowdrift development. Hirafu: 1000m, -8°, above 1000m major snowdrift development. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:ENE8m/s. Kamui Cape ENE4m/s, 1016hPa, wave 2.9m.
The winter weather pattern continues with major snowdrift development above 800m from the strong NE wind. Light winds and more than 20cm of good snow in forest areas below 700m. From observation and data analysis there are no obvious weak layers in the snow drifts below 800m, the avalanche risk is low except in the south facing strictly off limits areas. However do not stimulate knolls or cornices. Fluctuations in wind speed are causing inconsistent stabilisation of snowdrifts. Better to be safe than sorry. The snow is good in the forest.
Most accidents happen right after the storm. Snow conditions are always changing. Be aware of the current and past snowfall. Make wise decisions for conditions and situation. Be careful of falling into creeks or hitting trees. Do not duck ropes to ride out of bounds. Moiwa Gate 6 is expected to open. Have a good day.
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Thursday 14th December 2017
What's planned to be open today in Niseko (subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts operating:
- Ace Number 3 Pair lift
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad lift (nighta)
- Ace Family quad lift (nighta)
- King Number 3 quad lift
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair lift
- Swinging Monkey
* All courses are open apart from Large and Dynamic.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad lift
- Hanazono Number 2 quad lift
- Hanazono Number 3 quad lift
* All lifts are operating
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift (nighta)
- Jumbo Number 2 quad lift
- Dream Number 1 quad lift
* Utopia, Shirakaba, Silver, Panorama, "S" ji, Paradise, Family, Dynamic and Junior courses are open.
Niseko Village
Lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Banzai Chair
- Community Chair (nighta)
- Upper Village Gondola (nighta)
- Village Express (nighta)
- Morino Chair
* Top of Gondola to base is skiable.
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Official resort snow depths on Thursday 14th December 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 250cm
Base - 85cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Top - 135cm
Base - 90cm
Niseko Village
Top - 145cm
Base - 80cm
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Floodlit 'nighta' skiing:
Night skiing is planned for every evening at the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas.
There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Ski lifts that are scheduled to be operating for nighta are noted above.
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Thursday 14th December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 322cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 24 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 29cm (20th November) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 134cm reported on 13 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.