Niseko Now: Thursday 19th January 2023
- Jan 19, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 5cm
Snowfall at base this season 525cm
Posted on Thursday 19th January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
And it is a beautiful morning.
Nice and cold, with largely clear blue skies. There are just a few small clouds around in places. There is not much of a wind too.
There is another 5+cm of snow to add to the report, with that all coming in early afternoon afternoon (no more to add overnight).
I think it should be a real feel-good kind of morning, complete with scenery. This is before some potentially serious snowfall coming over the next week or so. Which is extremely feel-good, of course. Just in a different way!
Thank you very much to the people who sent in comments yesterday, I appreciate it. :)
---------------
Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -10C, no snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -10.6C, WNW3.7m, no snowfall, small snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -14.1C, WNW4.0m/s, no snowfall, calm. Mizuno no Sawa: -13.0C, NNW2.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -14.4C, light wind, calm. Hanzono#3: -11.5C, W0.5m/s. Coastal data: Benkei capeS3m/s, Kamui cape SSE4m/s, 1023hPa, 0.9m waves.
The weather is calm both in the ocean and the mountains under a high pressure system. According to the observation this morning, snow has stabilized and the general avalanche risk is low. Please listen to the patrols’ advice at the gates and always be prepared before you go outbounds. Out of bounds area is not controlled or managed. As the low pressure system approaches southerly wind will pick up in the afternoon, and low pressure snowfall will begin. Then it will become a fierce blizzard. Pay attention to the weather transition and snowfall transition. Most of the avalanche accidents occur during the bad weather. We urge you to respect the Niseko Rules, the rules for skiing out of bounds of ski resorts, and not to be overconfident in your knowledge, skills, and experience. Precaution prevents most accidents. Always have an accurate understanding of the situation. The crack in the west ridge backbowl is widening. The crack is not visible from above while skiing. Beware of falling. There is no safety in this sport. Have a good day.
---------------
Ski area information for Thursday 19th 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: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (no change 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
-------
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 165cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
-------
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
-------
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
-------
Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Thursday 19th January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 525cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 47 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 172cm 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.