Niseko Now: Monday 15th January 2024
- Jan 15, 2024
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 30cm
Snowfall at base this season 585cm
Posted on Monday 15th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It is a cold, snowy and windy morning!
Some interesting snowfall numbers being reported by the ski areas. Hirafu is saying 25cm. The connecting Hanazono is saying 40cm. The JMA measuring point just east of central Kutchan is saying 29cm over 24 hours.
My measurement is 30cm. My own main measuring point has been chosen (with great cunning) to not be overly affected by wind, but I think today the snow has been being blown around a bit so there's more/less in different places. The good news, though, is that there is quite a lot of it around.
And lovely it is, too.
Visibility is poor in places so take some extra care today if you are venturing out.
At 8:30am the main top lifts are on hold, as is the Annupuri Gondola and the Hanazono Number 1 lift. To avoid possible confusion I will take out the lift data on the report today.
The next sunshine should be on Monday.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -8C, 15cm snowfall with gusts. Mikaeri 764m: -13C, strong westerly wind with snow. Moiwa800m: -20.7C, NW7.9m/s (max25m/s@4am). Annupuri1100m: -15.3C, WNW6.6m/s. Village 1000m: -13.9C, WNW3.9m/s, Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -14.7C, NNE4.0m/s. Haanzono#3: -12.5C, NNW5.5m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW17ms/, Kamui cape WNW13m/s, 1005hPa, 2.2m waves.
The isobars are moving close together under the winter pressure distribution. Severe snowstorm conditions on the sea and the mountains. The avalanche risk is rising drastically. All gates above 800m will be shut. Stay inbounds today. There are too many people not acknowledging the Niseko Rules and taking the out of bounds skiing too easily. Skiers and snowboarders must be aware of the risk they’re taking going outside the resort’s management area. Niseko respects people’s freedom to ski out of bounds and have opened these areas by trusting people. Guides/parents/leaders have great responsibility. Small kids or beginners should not be taken outside the gates too easily. The snow in Niseko is great and the mountains may look gentle, however people should know that many people have lost their lives here too. The Niseko Rules have started out of safety necessity, not for promoting tourism. Lack of safety consciousness could lead to further regulation. Please understand and accept the Niseko Rules. The surrounding mountains are in similar bad condition, please be careful.
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Individual ski area information for Monday 15th 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: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 315cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 145cm (+15cm since yesterday)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 40cm
- Base: 40cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (+30cm since yesterday)
- Base: 200cm (+30cm since yesterday)
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 190cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (+10cm since yesterday)
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 244cm
- Base: 165cm
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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 Monday 15th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 585cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 48 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 218cm 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.