Niseko Now: Sunday 15th December 2019
- Dec 15, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 206cm
Posted on Sunday 15th December 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It is most definitely colder this morning and you can see the difference in the fresh snowfall that we have down to base overnight. 6cm of it today; not massive amounts but no doubt a bit more than that on the mountain.
Be sure to be appropriately wrapped up before venturing out today. It's cold. I highly recommend some toast too, always does the trick. Having said that, by the time I post this no doubt some of you gnarly folk will lining up at the lifts. I'm not jealous, honest.
As for the current weather we expect the chance of light snowfall at times today but another milder bump tomorrow and Tuesday before a return to much colder conditions from mid week - and hopefully consistent snowfall.
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I just looked back and noticed that last season I observed 333cm of snowfall here at base during the whole of the month of December 2018. We are half way through December 2019 now (!), and my current observed snowfall for the month stands at 121cm. We would normally expect more snowfall in the second half of the month than the first so it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
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Nighta at Niseko Grand Hirafu begins from tonight with the lower Family, Boyo and Kogen courses available until 8:30pm. The Ace Family quad and Holiday Number 1 pair lifts will be open for nighta. When things get going properly the Gondola and Ace Number 2 Center quad also operate in the evening but are not able to get going yet.
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Ski resort operation information: Sunday 15th December 2019
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report. Subject to change.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 150cm
- Base: 50cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
Courses available:
- Family
- Alpen
- Detour for beginners
- Green
- Shirakaba
- Center
- Kogen
- Boyo
- Ni-kabe
- Kokutai
- Holiday
- Rinkan (lower area)
- Jumbo
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 80cm
- Base: 30cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 85cm
- Base: 60cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
Courses available:
- Utopia Course
- Silver Course
- Shirakaba Course
- Paradise Course
- Junior Course
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 75cm
- Base: 45cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
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Night time operations are normally available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resort areas. Subject to weather conditions. There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO resort area.
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Sunday 15th December 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 206cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 20 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (6th December) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 121cm 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.