Niseko Now: Saturday 19th January 2019
- Jan 19, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 595cm
Posted on Saturday 19th January 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I think sitting out yesterday was a good idea, though while lift operations were limited a friend of mine came back very happy with his day of adventure in the snow. Perhaps I am getting a bit old!
This morning I have 9cm to report to you here at base and it looks like all lifts should be open as planned from the start of the day. No doubt there will be a rush to the untouched snow on the upper mountain. Things should be pretty fab this morning.
I will leave more scientific sounding stuff about the snow to the Avalanche report below. Take special care while you have your excite fun!
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain base 6am: -6.5℃, 5cm snowfall in 12hours, 25cm in 24hours, calm. Moiwa800m: -8.8℃, W3.6m/s, calm, cornices and snowdrifts have largely developed in 24 hours, mostly in the first 12. Mikaeri junction: snow depth 250cm, snowdrifts developments. Annupuri1120m: 190cm snow depth on the 18th, max wind speed 21m/s at 1pm, -11℃. Mizuno no sawa: -10.71℃, WSW2.4m/s, 5cm snowfall in the past 12 hours, 15cm in 24hours. Hirafu peak: -12℃, W10m/s, even development of snowdrifts. Kutchan weather station: -6.2℃, snow depth 129cm. Sea of Japan Benkei cape: NW9m/s, Kamui cape: W5m/s, 1016hPa, 2.4m waves.
The wind has calmed down and the cornices/snowdrifts developments that persisted the past 48hours have settled. The snowpack’s consolidation has stabilized and the avalanche risk below 1000m elevation is lowering, however hazard level remains high in slopes around cornices above 1000m in O-sawa and Backbowl. All gates are scheduled to open. Do not traverse under cornices and do not ride the bottom of the valleys. The out of bounds area may not be controlled or managed, but the ski resort and the community care about the visitors’ safety. Please ask the ski patrol some advices before stepping out of the gates. Wonderful tree-riding conditions today. Have you turned your beacon on?
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Ski resort operation information: Saturday 19th January 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 140cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned (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
- The Center Four lift will be open from 8:00am until 8:20am until 31st January 2019 (500 yen charge required).
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 197cm
- Base: 160cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned
- The Hanazono lifts are normally open until 3:50pm (Number 3 until 3:30pm)
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 260cm
- Base: 140cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned
- The Jumbo 1 lift is normally open until 8:30pm during the evening
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 270cm
- Base: 140cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as planned (Country Road Chair rested)
- 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 Saturday 19th January 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 595cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 50 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 178cm reported on 16 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.