Niseko Now: Saturday 19th December 2020
- Dec 19, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 29cm
Snowfall at base this season 263cm
Posted on Saturday 19th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
A very good Saturday morning to you from here in Niseko.
I am reporting around 30cm this morning. It was snowing until just earlier but right now there is a break in the clouds and even a little blue sky to be seen in some places. Again, this will likely be temporary as we are expecting snowfall through into tomorrow with a good chance of clearer skies early in the week; snow is due back soon after that.
It is a very cold morning.
The Hirafu Gondola starts up today, along with the Swinging Monkey and Holiday lift at Hirafu, as does night skiing. As far as I can tell, the Hirafu, Annupuri and Village areas should all be opening until 8:00am today.
It's always great to see night operations start up. Feels like the season has got going properly when that happens.
As you might expect, it is much quieter than what we are used to in Niseko. I have heard more than a few people say that they are very much enjoying that aspect of the season. The cheeky scoundrels!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Sea of Japan Benkei cape: NNW19m/s, Kamui cape: W14m/s, 1011hPa, 4.1m waves. Hanazono 1000m: -16.5℃, E2.1m/s, Hanazono 750m: -13.3℃, NNW7.7m/s, (25m/s at 2am), Annupuri 1000m: -14℃, W15m/s, wind-affected snowdrifts 1.5m, 40cm new snowfall. Moiwa base: -11℃, 30cm snowfall. Moiwa 600m: -13℃, W15m/s, snow-affected snowdrifts 100cm, snowpack 120cm. Kutchan weather station: -9.3℃, WNW4.6m/s, snowpack 85cm.
Cold air mass is flowing in. The storm picked up late night and snowdrifts developed rapidly above 850m elevation. The wind is calming down, however gusts and intermittent snowfall are continuing above 600m elevation. According to the snowfall transition, weather data and reports from patrollers and operators, the snowdrifts above 800m elevation are very unstable and the overall avalanche risk is high today. Better stay inbounds today even if the top chairs starts running. Large scale surface slab avalanches are highly likely to occur in Annupuri Osawa (first bowl) Mizuno no Sawa, Kozan no Sawa (Backbowl) and Haru no Taki. Do not stimulate steep slopes where cornices are developing. Do not remain in the bottom of the gullies. Cornice falls and avalanches occur instantaneously.
The out of bounds area is kept closed for the moment. Preparations are delayed due to continuous dumps. Please refrain from ducking ropes. The avalanche risk will remain high for a while after the wind calms down and weather recovers. Similar hazardous conditions in Goshiki and the surrounding areas. Suddenly developed snowdrifts are forming thick slabs and their consolidation is being delayed. Better refrain from dropping into a slope even if the weather clears up. Wear a helmet and beacon. Snowpack studies will be done in Mikaeri area today. Have a great weekend.
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Planned ski area operations: Saturday 19th December 2020
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm (+10cm)
- Base: 120cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
Courses available:
- Family
- Sennoki
- Alpen
- Super (upper area)
- Green
- Furiko
- Kokutai
- Detour for Beginners
- Center
- Shirakaba
- Rinkan (lower part)
- Jumbo
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 160cm (+10cm)
- Base: 105cm (+9cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 130cm (+10cm)
- Base: 100cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
Courses available:
- Utopia Course
- Shirakaba Course
- Family Course
- Paradise Course
- Dynamic Course
- Junior Course
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 120cm (+5cm)
- Base: 80cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas from Saturday 19th December 2020 until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Saturday 19th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 263cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 20 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 201cm 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.