Niseko Now: Friday 17th March 2017
- Mar 17, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 668cm
Posted on Friday 17th March 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Morning folks!
And how are you on this lovely Friday morning. All Friday mornings are lovely, aren't they?
As you may well know, Monday is 'Vernal Equinox Day' or spring equinox - and a national holiday. That makes this coming weekend a three day long weekend. I'm sure that won't make much difference with overseas visitors, but there'll probably/maybe be more of the local crowd out on the slopes. Things often get just that bit quieter after this holiday also.
Anyway, so what's happening this morning? Well, there's a dusting of snow on the ground here at base - very much a thin dusting, so no new cm. The Avalanche Report is also reporting just track snow from it's measuring points.
The sun is out and there's lots of blue sky with some cloud. So yes, a lovely Friday morning.
The forecast isn't showing much sign of snowfall so perhaps we should expect none and just be pleasantly surprised if and when we do get some.
As things stand we are expecting generally fine conditions over the weekend.
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Oh yes, I just noticed, nighta finishes on Monday. So 4 more days of nighta. (That sounds kind of odd!)
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain base : -2°, trace new snow. Moiwa 800m: -4.2°, NW3.3m/s, trace no new snow. Annupuri 1150m: -6°, NNW7m/s, trace new snow. Hirafu 1250m, -7°, light winds, no new snow. Coastal data: Kamui Cape: light winds, 1017hPa, wave 1.1m.
With no new snow for the last 5 days snow conditions on the mountain can be described as hard. From observation general avalanche risk is low. All gates are expected to be open. Snow conditions will get softer as temperature rises during the day and riding will get better. With the temperature rising the avalanche risk also increases. Cornices collapsing can start block avalanches, in steeper cliff areas where the snowpack is tending to creep and crack, full depth avalanches are also a possibility. Do not wait in valley bottoms or at the bottom of steep slopes. Do not enter south facing strictly off limits areas. Always follow Niseko Rules to ensure your continued freedom to ride out of bounds.
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Official resort snow depths as of Friday 17th March 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 335cm
Base - 135cm
Niseko Village
Top - 315cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 315cm
Base - 155cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Planned closing dates
Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
Niseko Hanazono plans to be open daily until Sunday 2nd April.
Niseko Village plans to be open daily until Sunday 2nd April (and then from 28th April until 7th May).
Niseko Annupuri plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Friday 17th March 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 668cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 79 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 160cm reported on 19 days March 2017 snowfall 65cm reported on 6 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.