Niseko Now: Sunday 17th December 2023
- Dec 17, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 172cm
Posted on Sunday 17th December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Fresh snow, hurray! I just measured 9cm. Hirafu are reporting 25cm in higher areas. The snow I'm looking at is not prime powder quality just yet, but we'll take it!
A few lifts on hold at 8:30am (example: only the gondola at Hanazono opening at the start of the day) due to windy conditions.
Just a comment about numbers. The only number that originates from me is the 'observed snowfall at base' number. So, today, that number is 9cm. I measure that in the same spot every day (and I have done for however many years). All of the other numbers (snow depth and snowfall) are what the ski areas are reporting each morning. Note the 'reported by the ski area' marker by that data. The change since the last report is calculated by me. I did maths at college, so I'm pretty handy at simple addition and subtraction. Sometimes the numbers seem odd or even flatly wrong. The only thing I can do in that case is to add a (!). See the 30cm increase in snow depth at Annupuri for an example. I have noted in an earlier report this season that things seem less consistent this year and I am just hoping that it is a result of the traditional early season panic mode and things will settle down.
I was out and about a bit yesterday and definitely noticed more people around, as you might expect in the week before Christmas. Ski areas are going to be very keen to open up more lifts and runs as quickly as possible. Santa always likes the whole mountain to be open when he visits at Christmas.
Forecasts are looking good for consistent cold and snowfall over the coming week, so all being well things will improve every day. :)
Wind might get pesky but it is the price we might have to pay for the bulk delivery of beautiful snow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am : -3°, 15cm wet snow over last 12hrs, blizzard. Moiwa, Annupuri : instrumentation not installed, no data. Hanazono Hirafu 1000m: -8.3°, WSW5.6m/s, Hanazono 700m: -5.9°, NNW9.6m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NNW18m/s. Kamui Cape WNW15m/s, 1000hPa, wave 2.7m.
Wet snowfall preceded a low pressure system, which resulted in a steeper pressure gradient and a winter like pressure system. This has brought a strong northerly wind and snow at sea level and on the mountains and a temperature drop. The avalanche risk will be high through tomorrow due to continued snowfall. Expect 50-70cm surface avalanches on leeward slopes at 1000m, dangerous. Cornices are large and will easily collapse. Creek sidewalls under cornices will also be prone to collapse. After the snowfall slows and wind drops below 10m/s, slabs will start to stabilise. Until then stay out of creek and valley bottoms. Conditions are similar on the surrounding mountains. Winter is here, have a good day.
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Individual ski area information for Sunday 17th December 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 at the time of writing and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 90cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 25cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad *
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four)
- Ace Number 3 pair
Courses:
- Center Course
- Family Course
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 80cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 50cm (+15cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1 (on hold)
- Hanazono Number 2 quad (on hold)
- Hanazono Symphony gondola *
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 1cm
- Base: 1cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 40cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 40cm (+30cm since yesterday) (!)
Lifts:
- Dream Number 1 quad *
- Jumbo quad * (on hold?)
Courses:
- Beginners run by the lift
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 0cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Upper Village Gondola *
- Village Express *
- Community Chair (on hold?)
- Banzai Chair *
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Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Lifts marked with an asterix (*) are normally scheduled to operate for night skiing.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Sunday 17th December 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 172cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 21 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 25cm (1st December) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 52cm reported on 10 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.