Niseko Now: Thursday 16th February 2023
- Feb 16, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 11cm
Snowfall at base this season 846cm
Posted on Thursday 16th February 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
My mind just wouldn't settle down last night and the noisy winds outside didn't help me get a good nights sleep. (Nothing some good toast won't fix).
It is another cold morning, currently -9C, and I have another 10cm of snow to report. Niseko Village are reporting a temp of -16C up top (and 5cm of fresh snow). Hanazono are reporting up to 20cm snowfall this morning.
Wind doesn't seem to be a particular nuisance at the moment so ski areas and gates should be opening as planned.
Tomorrow and Saturday probably will be milder, hopefully not by too much. But, without wanting to sound boring, the snow clouds probably won't ever be far away.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -8C, 10cm new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: -11.2℃, 15cm new snow, small snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -13.9C, WNW6.8m/s, small snowdrift development. Mizuno no Sawa top: -11.2C, NNW2.9m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -13.8C, NNE1.1m/s, average 10cm light crystal snow. Hanazono#3: -10.6C, N5.4m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NNW13m/s, Kamui Cape WSW8m/s, 1025hPa, 1.4m waves.
Mountains are calm under the weak wintery pressure distribution. Slops are reset with light crystal snow. From the observation, test, and weather data, general avalanche risk is low. Wind crusts have developed on the HigashiOne and Kozan no Sawa sidewall due to the NE wind from the day before, beware of shallow surface avalanches on the slopes over 40 degrees, expect to slide a long way at high speed which can be triggered by falling or rider stimulation. New snow is thin and you will still hit the bottom, but some pockets of good snow can be found in the trees. Do not stimulate the knolls and steep open slopes. Remember there are people riding underneath you. Do not stay in the gullies. Avalanche risk always exists but most of the accidents can be prevented if we are careful. All the peak gates will be open. Always use gates to go outbounds. Beware of sudden weather change. Have you switched your beacon on? Have a good day.
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Ski area information for Thursday 16th February 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 365cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 165cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 310cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 250cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 190cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 235cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Thursday 16th February 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 846cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 74 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th & 28th January, 6th February) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm reported on 27 days February 2023 snowfall 161cm reported on 15 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.