Niseko Now: Wednesday 18th January 2023
- Jan 18, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 520cm
Posted on Wednesday 18th January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It is another cold morning and while there's not a huge amount of new snow (during the day yesterday), it's really good quality. I'm looking forward to getting out there this morning to check it out.
Light snow is falling at the moment and visibility is fairly decent. It looks like we might get to enjoy some heavy snow around Friday into the weekend.
Please indulge me for a moment.
An appropriately outraged person sent a message telling me that I have been spelling the name of Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu wrong. Apparently, it's 'Tokyo', not 'Tokyu', and clearly I don't take my 'work' seriously enough.
It is Tokyu, by the way - the name of the company.
I'm fine being informed about any factual mistakes I might make, and will always quickly fix any that are found. I put a lot of time and care into putting this together every morning for over 5 months a year - and, most days, I love doing so. But before you get angry and send rude comments, maybe check first? (Actually... why not just take the angry and rude out of any comments?)
Internet people are funny. I know, I know. I should have let it go! But from time to time, I feel the need to let it out.
OK, got that off my chest. Should be ok for a while now... ;)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -8C, 5cm snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -10.1C, NW0.8m, calm. Annupuri 1100m: -12.6C, W3.4m/s. Mizuno no Sawa: -11.5C, NW1.4m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -12.4C, N0m/s. Hanzono#3: -9.9C, NNE0.8m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape Calm, Kamui capeWSW8m/s, 1019hPa, 0.9m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is mellow and the ocean and mountain weather is calm. Yesterday’s snowfall and snowdrifts are stable, and the snow in the tree-runs and knoll terrain is deep. Looking at observation and tests results, the avalanche risk in slopes under 1000m elevation is low. It will start storming again as the atmospheric systems move and the isobars tightens. The snow conditions are highly affected by the wind. Snowstorms with over 18m/s winds generate heavy snowdrifts in leeward slopes and these are when many of the avalanche accidents occur. Avalanches are natural phenomena that only become an issue when a human is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
NIED’s experiment on observing how snowdrifts’ form and change consistency during storms will start next week. We hope that this scientific research will clarify the cause and effect relationship between storms and avalanche occurrence and eventually be useful to prevent future accidents.
The morning snow condition is fantastic. Beware of sudden weather changes. Snowsports are not safe activities, be conscious of the risks you’re taking. Have a nice day.
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Ski area information for Wednesday 18th January 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 285cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Ace Number 4 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 8cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 165cm (-5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 145cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 135cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Wednesday 18th January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 520cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 46 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (2nd and 16th January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 167cm reported on 14 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.