Niseko Now: Sunday 17th January 2016
- Jan 17, 2016
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 31cm
Snowfall at base this season 532cm
Posted on Sunday 17th January 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I'm sitting here writing this with a big grin on my face.
After some heavy snowfall through the day yesterday, how does 31cm of snow since my last report sound? As you can see the Avalanche Report bringing in numbers of 40cm and above.
That's what we have got as it just keeps on piling up. I expect conditions will be... rather good this morning.
Perhaps less snow today and tomorrow (though it has started off snowing at the moment), and maybe we will get a bit of that sun we were promised (actually the sun does seem to be peaking through clouds in some places)... and then back to heavier snow and stormy conditions Tuesday and Wednesday.
It is looking likely that lots of Japan will be getting snow and stormy conditions around then so I hope my friends down there get large amounts as well. With the snow we have been getting the last few weeks, it's hard to imagine that lots of ski resorts to the south of us are still struggling with snow.
I don't actually know what else to say this morning!
I hope you can get out to enjoy it.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -8℃, 40cm of crystal snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -11℃, mild wind, 40cm of fresh and no snowdrift development. Mikaeri 740m: -10.8℃, SW0.9m/s. Annupuri 1150m: -12℃, N5m/s, 45cm snowfall. Hirafu 1000m: -13℃, 40cm new snow, no snowdrift development. Benkei cape: N5m/s, Kamui cape: WNW6m/s, 1019hPa, 1.4m waves.
Niseko area is under a high-pressure area and the isobars are spaced out. Good amount of crystal snowflakes have dumped under the calm weather condition. The overall avalanche hazard level is low, peak gates will open from the morning. Please follow the patrol’s instructions and step out from the gates. The snow is deep, beware of falling upside-down and being suffocated. Never step in Haru No Taki strictly off-limits areas. Today’s new snowpack may form a large connected slab under the sun and risks of surface slab avalanche of 60cm thickness, triggered by ski stimulation would raise after 9am. A fatal accident occurred in Haru No Taki area under a similar condition in 1998. The Niseko Rules exist for the sole purpose of protecting people’s freedom and safety of riding. We strongly hope that everyone acknowledge the significance of those Rules. Have a nice day.
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Official resort snow depths as of Sunday 17th January 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 340cm
Base - 165cm
Niseko Village
Top - 250cm
Base - 150cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 230cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Sunday 17th January 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 532cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 37 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (17th January) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 227cm reported on 16 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.