Niseko Now: Wednesday 16th December 2020
- Dec 16, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 197cm
Posted on Wednesday 16th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
The snowfall has continued and this morning I have 20cm to report to you.
With my new self-appointed duty of doing the change in snow depth thingy - see yesterdays report - it's interesting to note that three of the areas are increasing their base more than upper numbers. My suggestion is to just look at these numbers as a point of interest, but not to obsess over them! Especially once things get going properly, it's the fresh snowfall that matters.
Further snowfall is still expected over the coming days.
The Dynamic Course at Niseko Annupuri is now available.
Lift operations remain unchanged.
Glad I had my toast early this morning... there's some blue sky and I think it's time to go out and check out the goods before the next batch of snow is delivered. Purely for research purposes of course.
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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!
Moiwa base: -8℃, light wind, 30cm snowfall. Kutchan weather station: -7.1℃, SSW0.7m/s, 72cm snow depth, 1006hPa. Benkei Cape: NNW15m/s, Kamui cape: WNW10m/s, 1006hPa, 2.1m waves. Hanazono1000m: -13.3℃, NNE2.6m/s, Moiwa600m 1am: strong westerly wind, snow and bad visibility, the wind calmed down after 3am, 30cm snowfall in 12h. Annupuri1000m: NW10m/s, 30cm snowfall with snowdrifts developments.
According to morning observations, reports from ski patrol and cat operators and various weather data transition, snowdrifts and cornices are developing in the eastern aspects above 800m elelvation. The development is relatively slow due to the windspeed remaining under 15m/s, making snowdrifts and cornices grow but remaining stable. The snow in the trees under 800m elevation is deep and good, unaffected by the wind. The overall avalanche risk is low except in leeward 30+° slopes just under the ridge.
The bushes are getting buried, but still need some more snow. Access Gates are yet to be prepared and the out of bounds area is kept closed for the moment. Do not cross boundary ropes to access the off-pistes. The snow is forecasted to keep falling under the current favorable pressure distribution. There may be some clear windows in times, but the storm will switch back on and visibility will be lost as soon as the pressure gradient steepens. Remain careful. Fantastic inbounds and groomer condition today. Beware of frostbites. Have a nice day.
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Ski resort operation information: Wednesday 16th 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: 170cm (+15cm)
- Base: 105cm (+10cm)
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: 135cm (+10cm)
- Base: 80cm (+15cm)
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: 100cm (+20cm)
- Base: 70cm (+25cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
Courses available:
- Utopia Course
- Shirakaba Course
- Family Course
- Paradise Course
- Dynamic Course
- Junior Course
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 90cm (+10cm)
- Base: 60cm (+20cm)
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 Wednesday 16th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 197cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 17 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 135cm 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.