Niseko Now: Friday 16th December 2016
- Dec 16, 2016
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 36cm
Snowfall at base this season 221cm
Posted on Friday 16th December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
A very good morning to you from here in the Niseko region, and what a morning it is.
After the disappointment of yesterday, what do we have here? Only an impressive 36cm of fresh snow on the ground! And if you check the Avalanche Report below, they are mentioning up to 60cm of fresh out there on the mountain. Very nice.
I almost didn't think it was going to happen but the snow started coming down in style later in the afternoon. And it really was snowing heavily for a while there - what a sight it was too! Strong winds joined in the mix and were blowing the snow around and so it's a case of more-or-less in different places. I think my 36cm is a representative amount to record in the report though and wherever you are taking readings from this morning, it's a lot.
It is keeping very cold, less wind and the snow is still falling now, so conditions out on the slopes should be fantastic. I tend to avoid using cheesy variations on the words like 'deep' in my reports, but that word will apply this morning. Especially with the limited visibility conditions early on, remember to be careful where you go. Everyone gets excited on a day like today but we need to keep our thinking head on at the same time.
Hopefully soon I'll be able to take down specific lift operation information and just be able to declare 'everywhere open', but it doesn't look like we're quite there just yet. This fresh snow will certainly help.
Snow clouds are forecast to be over us today and tomorrow but after that there's a run of clearer skies lined up along with somewhat milder temperatures.
Anyway time to post the report. I am officially excited and am going to wrap myself up, get the low visibility goggles on and go experience it all myself. I might not make it to the first lifts of the day - there's already people lining up for the first lifts as I write this about 30 minutes before they start moving - but there'll be more than enough for everyone to enjoy this morning.
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Just a quick look at some numbers:
Last season, up until 16th December 2015 I had observed 137cm of snowfall.
This season, up until 16th December 2016 I have observed 223cm of snowfall.
Same me, same place. I like the sound of that. May it be the pattern for the season...
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -8C, 50cm new light crystal snowfall in the last 12 hrs, light winds. Elevation 800m: light winds, 60cm new snow, no snowdrift development. Coastal data: Kamui Cape: W10m/s, 1008hPa, wave 1.1m.
We are currently in the middle of a winter weather pattern and there has been 40cm of new snow fall at mountain base. The wind above 800m is expected to increase from the west, along with increasing development of cornices and snowdrifts above that altitude. The weak frost layer from 14th Dec persists, however above this layer there is no wind pack so general avalanche risk is considered low..
Leaving the ski runs today and riding into the valley bottoms is not recommended today, it will be difficult to impossible to make it back to the resort in this deep snow. The gates are not set up yet and riding out of bounds is not allowed yet.
Don't duck ropes, passes will be confiscated. The snow is deep and good- winter is here!
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Resort specific opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):
All four resort areas appear to be able to open as planned at the start of the day.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Ace Family pair*
- Ace Number 2 Center Four*
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola*
- King Number 3 quad
- Holiday Number 1 pair*
- Swinging Monkey
Courses that are not yet open:
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Hanazono 1 quad
- Hanazono 2 quad
- Hanazono 3 quad
Courses planned to be open:
- All open apart from Hanazono Park
Niseko Village
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola*
- Village Express*
- Community Chair*
- Banzai Chair
Niseko Annupuri
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Jumbo Number 1 quad* (opening late this morning)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Annupuri Gondola
Courses planned to be open:
- Utopia
- Shirakaba
- Silver
- Paradise
- Junior
- Family
- Dynamic
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Official resort snow depths as of Friday 16th December 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 220cm
Base - 100cm
Niseko Village
Top - 100cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 100cm
Base - 90cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
The lifts marked with a * above are the lifts that are planned to be operating for nighta.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Friday 16th December 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 221cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 25 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 111cm reported on 11 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.