Niseko Now: Thursday 18th February 2016
- Feb 18, 2016
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 790cm
Posted on Thursday 18th February 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
An excellent day for enjoying the snow conditions yesterday even though there were a few lift disruptions due to wind by mid-day.
There's another 8cm of snow to report to you this morning from here at Hirafu base.
Happily things seem somewhat calmer this morning as well. There's less wind and it's not quite as cold.
Regular but generally light snow is forecast over the next few days - looks like it's going to get slightly warm tomorrow and there's a chance that we might have to endure a bit of rain; but hopefully even if that happens it will be short-lived.
More snowfall - and perhaps heavier snowfall - is expected around Saturday. And more snow into next week, so it looks like we should be able to enjoy regular fresh each morning.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -5°C, 5cm, calm. Moiwa 800m: -6°C, W8m/s, 15cm new snow. Mikaeri 740m: light wind. -6.9°C. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NW14m/s. Kamui Cape WSW11m/s, 1005hPa, wave 2.6m. Hirafu Peak ridge line: light wind, -7°C. Annupuri 1150m: -9°C, W12m/s, snow conditions heavy with huge cornice development, snowpack 260cm.
The winds dropped around midnight and the rapid snowdrift development from yesterday has slowed. From observation and data avalanche risk around 800m is dropping, however at 1000m leeward cornice, knoll, open 30deg slopes high avalanche risk continues. Avalanche risk from rider stimulation or careless traverses is still high. The scale of predicted avalanches is over 60cm. Please take special care today.
All peak gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrol and make proper preparations before entering out of bounds areas. These areas are not managed and can deliver a serious lesson very quickly. There is many people riding out of bounds, carelessly triggering an avalanche could take out many people below. Dont stop and wait in the gullies, this is the avalanche path. Snow is a little slow but good. The temperature is rising and snow will become heavy by lunchtime. Take care to not hit obstacles.
Early yesterday a full depth avalanche occurred at 800m in Mizo no Sawa. Air temperature is not the only cause of these deep avalanches. Cracks give an indication of the instabilities, however in this instance the crack and collapse happened at the same time. This is not uncommon in Niseko area. Take care. Have a good day.
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Official resort snow depths as of Thursday 18th February 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 360cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Village
Top - 340cm
Base - 170cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 350cm
Base - 170cm
Niseko Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Thursday 18th February 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 790cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 60 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (17th February) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 303cm reported on 26 days February 2016 snowfall 182cm reported on 13 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.