Niseko Now: Sunday 14th January 2024
- Jan 14, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 5cm
Snowfall at base this season 555cm
Posted on Sunday 14th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
In contrast to yesterday, it's shades of grey (* not sure how many) this morning. It is snowing, too, though just lightly as the ski lifts get going for the day.
We have a nice modest top up of around 5cm this morning.
Yes, the snow is back and it looks like we should be getting a fair amount of it across the next few days. And it looks like it will be particularly cold too. Not that it's warm this morning, currently around -4C.
Hey, what's with 'excite' and 'let's enjoying'?
Oops, gomen! That's probably some Japanese occasionally creeping into my English. (File under: Been here too long. Or, silly).
Anyway, it is time for some Sunday morning coffee and toast! Have a good one.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am: -8°, 5cm new snow in last 12hrs, calm. Moiwa 800m: -16.2, WNW3.6m/s, no snowfall data. Mikaeri 764m: -8°, light winds, 10cm new snow, snow depth 250cm. Annupuri 1100m: -11.4°, WNW6.9m/s(max 15m/s @ 4am), 10cm new snow, good visibility. Village 1000m: -10.1°, W3.5m/s. Hanazono 1000m: -10.9°, ESE2.1m/s, good visibility. Hanazono 3 : -7.6°, NNE2.9m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:WNW10m/s. Kamui Cape WSW10m/s, 1018hPa, wave 1.0m.
We are under a high pressure ridge with light westerly winds, the sea and mountains are calm. The avalanche risk is low this morning. All gates are expected to be opened. Please follow the patrols advice. Visibility is poor above 1100m altitude. Conditions are different to yesterday, better not to venture too far out. Low pressure snowfall is expected in the afternoon. Once this starts wet avalanches will easily occur on Annupuri Osawa and Backbowl sidewall. Further, if westerly winds and snow become stronger following the low pressure front, the risk of surface avalanches will increase. Pay attention to future snowfall trends. The light is weak today and it is difficult to read the snow. Watch out for old tracks in the hard base under the new snow. Do not enter strictly off limits areas Haru no Taki or Yunosawa. There is no safety in this sport, but most accidents can be prevented if you are careful. Be careful of a sudden change in weather. Have a nice day
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Individual ski area information for Sunday 14th 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 (-10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 130cm (-5cm 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: 5cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (-5cm since yesterday)
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: 232cm
- Base: 159cm
Lifts:
- All lifts operating apart from 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 Sunday 14th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 555cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 47 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 188cm reported on 12 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.