Niseko Now: Tuesday 15th December 2020
- Dec 15, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 32cm
Snowfall at base this season 177cm
Posted on Tuesday 15th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
A very good morning to you.
Great news today. Over 30cm of fresh snow just measured outside and has been falling this morning, though has eased off just before and in places some blue sky has started to appear. The forecasts remains for snow, though, so this is likely just a temporary break. It might be snowing again just after I post this.
Snow is on the forecast every day through into next week. So don't get bored of my talking about snow, please.
And if you are venturing out, as exciting as this all is, let's take extra care!
The only change I can see right now in terms of lift/course operations is the Family course at Annupuri being added to the list. I would expect more changes coming soon... perhaps even today).
Always trying to find ways to make my reports take me more time in a morning, I have added a few numbers to the report. For example:
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 155cm (+25cm)
- Base: 95cm (+20cm)
The new numbers are the ones in brackets. They show the change since the previous report. I was quite good at math(s) at school, so I should be good. I will endeavour to keep this going especially when there are big changes.
Remember these numbers are official numbers put out there by the ski areas themselves. I am simply reporting on them. Just as a bit of interesting information.
These numbers can be found in each report in the lower section. (I do actually check and update that lot each morning!)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
As always, we would like to thank the good people providing the Niseko Avalanche Report each morning.
Respect.
Keep safe!
>>
Kutchan Town: SSW3.5m/s, -8.1℃, snow depth 63cm, 1006.6hPa. Moiwa 600m: WNW3m/s, -9℃, 55cm new snow, poor visibility. Hanazono 1000m: SSE3.1m/s, -15.2℃. Coastal Data- Cape Benkei: WNW18m/s. Cape Kamui: W11m/s, 1005hPa, wave 2.5m. Moiwa Base: -10℃, 45cm new snow, snow depth 70cm. 1500m Elevation Reference: WNW15m/s.
This season’s strongest winter weather pattern is bringing cold air and has dropped over 50cm of snow in the last 24hrs. And more is coming. Above 1000m blizzard conditions, however winds are less than 15m/s. Cornices and and snowdrifts are large above 800m and growth continues steadily. Leeward slopes on the west side around 1000m have 150cm+ snowdrift growth, cornices will easily collapse and avalanches could occur easily on open steep slopes.
On leeward snowdrift slopes, 30deg and steeper with buried bamboo around 800m, there is the possibility of surface avalanche fracturing at over 60cm depth. Better to not go riding until visibility gets better and the snowdrifts stabilise. We can finally ride in the trees, but the snow is deep and heavy and hard to get through. The snow on the sides of the runs is fantastic. Be careful of hidden obstacles. Gates will take a little more time before they can open. Please respect and understand Niseko Rules.
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Ski resort operation information: Tuesday 15th December 2020
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 155cm (+25cm)
- Base: 95cm (+20cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- King Number 3 quad
Courses available:
- Family
- Sennoki
- Alpen
- Green
- Kokutai
- Detour for Beginners
- Center
- Shirakaba
- Rinkan (lower part)
- Jumbo
- Connection between King Number 3 and Center course
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 125cm (+20cm)
- Base: 70cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 80cm (+15cm)
- Base: 45cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
Courses available:
- Utopia Course
- Shirakaba Course
- Family Course
- Paradise Course
- Junior Course
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 80cm (+20cm)
- Base: 40cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas from Saturday 19th December 2020.
There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Tuesday 15th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 177cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 16 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 115cm 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.