Niseko Now: Monday 16th January 2023
- Jan 16, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 22cm
Snowfall at base this season 499cm
Posted on Monday 16th January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
After several days with no fresh snow, this is much better!
20cm+ on the ground giving us a nice new (and needed) layer. All of that came overnight.
It is snowing (very) lightly as I write this and about -6C, with light snow forecast on/off over the next few days. Maybe enough to bring us more cm to report tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -5C, light wind, 20cm snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -9.1℃, NNW3.3m/s, 20cm snowfall. Annupuri 1100m: -11.8C, N3.8m/s. Mizuno no Sawa: -10.8C, NNE1.2m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -11.4C, NNE5.1m/s, 20cm snowfall. Hanazono#3: -8.9℃, NNE2.4m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNE9m/s, Kamui cape N6m/s, 1014hPa, 1.9m waves.
20-30cm light crystal snowfall at pre-dawn. Cornices and snowdrifts are growing slowly above 800m, and rather rapidly above 1000m elevation due to the 10+m/s, NE wind. Shallow avalanches caused by ski-stimulation are likely to occur at knolls and leeward slopes under cornices above 800m. Do not drop simultaneously, traverse across steep slopes or gather at the bottom of the gullies. Gates are scheduled to open. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Rough and firm layer is lying underneath the soft snow, ride carefully. 50cm thick surface slab avalanches are expected in 1000m areas of the Backbowl sidewalls, Osawa cornice slopes, Mikaeri Bowl and East ridge. It is highly recommended to stay away from these areas. The snow in the tree-runs is good, but still shallow. Beware of hidden stumps and tree-bombs. Winter avalanches occur when wind-affected snow slabs collapse with stimulation. Do not ski leeward knolls and steep slopes on a windy day. Have you switched your beacon on? Do you carry a shovel, probe and a rope? Safety is never guaranteed in winter sports, but most accidents can be avoided if everyone is careful enough. Have a nice day.
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Ski area information for Monday 16th January 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: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 275cm (+20cm since yesterday)
- Base: 100cm (+10cm 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
- Ace Number 4 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: 23cm
- Base: 22cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 208cm (+23cm since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (+20cm 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: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (-10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 120cm (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: 145cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 135cm (+5cm 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 Monday 16th January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 499cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 44 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (2nd and 16th January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 146cm reported on 12 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.