Niseko Now: Friday 15th March 2024
- Mar 15, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 861cm
Posted on Friday 15th March 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Just under 1cm of snow since yesterday. I feel I can justify the 1cm in this report. Perhaps a few more higher up?
As I write this the sun is out. It's a kind of bright and hazy/overcast kind of fine weather, and I wonder if we'll get lovely deep blue skies or if it might stay like it is now.
I'm a bit early this morning, but expect ski areas to be open as planned.
There is just a few more days of night skiing left this season. Wednesday 20th is the last planned day for that. Why that day? It's a national holiday.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am: -3°, no new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: -4.1°, SW0.3m/s. Mikaeri 764m: -6°, SW0.3m/s, good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -7.0°, WNW8.1m/s, trace new snow, minor snowdrift development. Village 1000: -4.5°, WNW5.4m/s. Hanazono 1000m: -6.7°, NNE3.3m/s. Hanazono 3 : -3.0°, N0.5m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NNW5m/s. Kamui Cape WSW4m/s, 1012hPa, wave 0.6m.
Although there is an approaching low pressure front, the pressure gradient is shallow and both the seas and mountains are calm. There is a relatively strong west wind at 1500m, but there has been little snowdrift development. Peak gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the Patrols advice before going out the gates. Remember outside the gates is a wild natural mountain, not a ski resort. This information is published to respect the freedom of resort users to ride out of bounds and to serve as a reference for their safety. No mountain is safe. Outside the gates your skill and knowledge will constantly be tested. Have a nice day. Beware getting snow blind today from strong reflections from the snow surface. Wear eye protection.
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Individual ski area information for Friday 15th March 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: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 305cm
- Base: 100cm
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from King Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad (normal operations)
- 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: 1cm
- Base: 1cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- 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: 220cm (no change since a long time ago)
- Base: 130cm (-10cm since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- 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: 231cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 138cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from Morino Chair and Country Road
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Friday 15th March 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 861cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 88 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 298cm reported on 24 days February 2024 snowfall 144cm reported on 20 days March 2024 snowfall 52cm reported on 9 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.