Niseko Now: Thursday 17th December 2020
- Dec 17, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 23cm
Snowfall at base this season 220cm
Posted on Thursday 17th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
And... another very decent amount of lovely snowfall to report to you this morning and I am measuring 23cm of it. A good chunk of that came to us during the day yesterday after that clearer start. I enjoyed some fine conditions in the morning.
With more expected at higher elevations, we are getting a good base going now with the ski areas reporting 70-105cm around base areas and 110-180cm at peak.
There seems to be some sunshine due around Tuesday, along with milder temperatures, but before that we can expect cold and consistent snowfall... and it is snowing lightly now and gradually getting heavier as I look outside my window.
It might get somewhat windy later in the day but nothing that should annoy too much.
Perhaps we will see more terrain opening for the weekend? (Just my guess and hope).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data- Cape Benkei: NW18m/s,. Cape kamui: NW13m/s, 1008hPa, wave 2.9m. Moiwa Mountain Base: -8℃、15cm new snow. Moiwa 600m: -9℃, Intermittent westerly wind and snow continues, 15cm new snow, snow depth 90cm. Hanazono 1000m: -13.8℃, SSE1.7m/s, intermittent blizzard conditions. Annupuri 1000m: -12℃, W12m/s, snowdrift growth 40-50cm, Annupuri 1150m snowdrift growth 150-200cm. Kutchan Town: -6.0℃, W3.0m/s, 1007.9hPa.
The winter type pressure pattern continues with intermittent blizzard above 600m. Above 1000m cornices and snowdrifts are slowly growing. Although winds are light at the mountain base, higher up it is much stronger. Below 800m in the forest zone the avalanche risk on leeward slopes is low. Above 1000m open leeward 30deg slopes there is possibility of surface avalanches fracturing at more than 80 cm.
Surface avalanches occur when slabs start to form. Wind snow slabs (snowdrifts) that develop in winds above 25 m/s are hard and structurally unstable, and are prone to surface-generated avalanches that fracture by skier stimulation. The slabs will stabilize when the wind and snow drops, but it takes time especially if the wind and snow were strong. It is better not to ride on steep open slopes snowdrifts soon after the wind drops and the lifts start. It's cold today. Beware of sudden changes in the weather. Have a good day.
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Ski resort operation information: Thursday 17th 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: 180cm (+10cm)
- Base: 105cm (+0cm)
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
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 145cm (+10cm)
- Base: 90cm (+10cm)
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: 110cm (+10cm)
- Base: 80cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola (?)
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
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: 110cm (+20cm)
- Base: 70cm (+10cm)
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 Thursday 17th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 220cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 18 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 158cm 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.