Niseko Now: Friday 18th February 2022
- Feb 18, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 906cm
Posted on Friday 18th February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Yesterday we ended up with some blue skies and bright sunshine. The temperature is -4C and that will probably get up to about -3C or -2C at base later on. So it's relatively mild.
There is another 4cm of snowfall to report to you and some very light snow falling around the time I am writing this, but there's also a bit of sun shining through my window right now. And some blue skies to be seen in some directions.
The shiny Gondola and Number 3 lift at Hanazono are apparently going be a bit delayed opening this morning. Something to do with maintenance/inspection.
I hope we get some decent snow Sunday through Tuesday like the forecasts seem to show. It feels like we could do with a decent reset.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, 3cm snowfall, light winds. Moiwa800m: -8℃, N breeze, 3cm snowfall, 40cm snowdrift development overnight. Anupuri1150m: -11℃, N5m/s, 5cm snowfall, 40cm snowdrift development. Hirafu1250m: -12℃, light winds at dawn, trace new snow, snowdrift development. Coastal data Benkei cape: NNE11m/s, Kamui cape: WNW2m/s, 1020hPa, 1.7m waves.
A winter type pressure pattern has set up following the passing of a low pressure system. Only a small amount of snow fell overnight with minor cornice and snowdrift development. From observation and data the general avalanche risk is low. All gates are expected to be open.
Please listen to the patrols advice before exiting the gates. Be careful, the new snow is just enough to cover the old hard tracks. The snow is good and your boards should run well. There is no safe zone in this sport. Be careful hitting trees and cracks. Sometimes you will lose visibility in bad weather. Always use caution. The patrol, groomer operators, lift operators and other mountain staff, all work together to give you a safer day on the mountain. Lets hope today is another one.
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Planned ski area operations: Friday 18th February 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 380cm (no change)
- Base: 200cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (+5cm)
- Base: 255cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 320cm (+10cm)
- Base: 220cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 210cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Friday 18th February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 906cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 74 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 189cm reported on 15 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.