Niseko Now: Monday 17th February 2020
- Feb 17, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 17cm
Snowfall at base this season 602cm
Posted on Monday 17th February 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
And it feels like a good Monday morning.
It doesn't feel as cold as yesterday (to me anyway, perhaps due to it coming in from the south), but I am measuring 17cm of fresh snowfall this morning here at base. I note the Avalanche report is reporting 25cm.
I wouldn't say that it is prime quality, but that is certainly not a complaint and I am very keen to get out there - as are others lining up for first lifts early on!
The southerly winds might be a bit of a 'doh!' to cunning plans being made for turns at the top of the mountain though, as top lifts are on hold at the start of the day.
At the moment just as I am about to post the report it is cloudy with even a bit of sun poking through in places. It was snowing lightly until just a short while ago. Perhaps changeable weather during the day today and hopefully we'll get some more proper snow at times over the next few days.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base: -4.0°, 25cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: S 178deg 10 min avg 5.4m/s , -5.2°. Yu no Sawa 1000m: WSW 231deg 6.4m/s, -7.3. Niseko Village 900m: S 175 deg 7.4m/s, -6.5°. Hirafu 1000m : S 183deg 12m/s(max 18m/s at 5am) , -7.4°. Hanazono 720m: SSW 191deg 9.4m/s (18m/s at 5am) , -5.0°. Annupuri 1100m: no data. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:SSE 12m/s. Kamui Cape NE 13m/s, 1000hPa, wave 2.2m.
A low pressure system is moving slowly northward up the Sea of Japan bringing blizzard conditions and snowdrift development from the east. On the west side of the range at 800m snow drift development has been over 100cm and is easily fracturing from impact. The cold low pressure snowfall has formed soft slabs which are not easily compacting. The avalanche risk is extremely high above 800m on cornice slopes and around knolls. Predicted to fracture on 16th Feb low pressure front snowfall layer. Better not get on open steep slopes today. The trees are reset with 25cm of new snow – good. But watch out for the hard layer underneath.
Most accidents happen during bad weather like blizzards. Make flexible plans according to the weather. Visibility is poor today, watch out crashing. Is your beacon on? They are not just a fashion accessory. Peak gates are expected to be closed. Enjoy the snow on the sides of the runs. Have a good day.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 260cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts are normally operating EXCEPT:
- Ace Number 1 pair lift (normally rested)
- King Number 2 quad lift (normally rested)
All courses normally open
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Ace Family quad until 8:30pm
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad until 8:20pm
- Hirafu Gondola until 8:10pm
- Holiday Number 1 pair until 8:30pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 180cm
- Base: 108cm
All lifts are normally operating
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 180cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts are normally operating
Lift scheduled for late operations:
- Jumbo Number 1 quad until 8:30pm
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 190cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts normally operating EXCEPT:
- Country Road Chair (normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Annupuri Village Gondola until 8:00pm
- Village Express until 8:00pm
- Banzai Chair until 8:00pm
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Monday 17th February 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 602cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 62 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 33cm (21st January) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 207cm reported on 21 days January 2020 snowfall 224cm reported on 20 days February 2020 snowfall 86cm 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.