Niseko Now: Sunday 17th March 2019
- Mar 17, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 915cm
Posted on Sunday 17th March 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Fresh snow! The report below is reporting 5-10cm in different areas and I can add 6cm to my observed snowfall. Hurray!
And there's lovely blue skies above us too at the start of the day.
Early tracks should be best before the sun gets to it and warms things up to low positive numbers. I wonder if there might be 10+cm up top...
More sunshine is expected tomorrow too.
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Country Road Chair lift at Niseko Village fans. Yes, it's open now. Bit lazy that lift, isn't it, but let's hope it can have something of a spring workout...
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain Base 6.00am: -2°, 3cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -5.5°, NW5.10m/s, 5cm new snow. Mikaeri Junction: 10cm new snow, minor snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -8.3°, NNW4.40m/s, snow depth 250cm. Hirafu 1000m: -7.8°, NW5.4m/s. Kutchan Weather Station: 7.2°, snow depth 119cm, WNW1.0m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NNE7m/s. Kamui Cape: light winds, pressure 1015hPa, wave 0.7m.
The mountain is covered with fresh snow again. Above 800m in leeward forested areas there is 10-15cm of soft snowdrift development. The snow quality will deteriorate as the day warms but early on the snow will be good. Be careful of old tracks and hidden objects under the snow. From observation the general avalanche risk is low, however on open steep slopes and knolls, shallow avalanches will easily occur, take care. To avoid getting caught in a full depth avalanche do not spend time in the valley bottoms. Avalanches are a natural occurrence and only become an accident if people are involved. Have a good day.
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Ski resort operation information: Sunday 17th March 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 340cm
- Base: 130cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts opening as normal at the start of the day (Ace Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad rested)
- The Ace Family quad (until 8:30pm), Ace Center 4 quad (8:20pm), Hirafu Gondola (until 8:10pm) and Holiday Number 1 pair (until 8:30pm) lifts are normally open during the evening
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 244cm
- Base: 175cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts opening as normal at the start of the day
- The Hanazono lifts are normally currently open until 4:20pm
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Niseko Annupuri
Plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 100cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts opening as normal at the start of the day
- The Jumbo 1 lift is normally open until 8:30pm during the evening
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Niseko Village
Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 100cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts opening as normal at the start of the day. Even the Country Road Chair!
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are normally open until 8:00pm during the evening
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Sunday 17th March 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 915cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 85 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 333cm reported on 26 days January 2019 snowfall 285cm reported on 25 days February 2019 snowfall 198cm reported on 20 days March 2019 snowfall 15cm 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.