Niseko Now: Friday 1st April 2022
- Apr 1, 2022
- 6 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 1135cm
Posted on Friday 1st April 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
We start April with some fresh snow. It's not much more than a dusting but enough for me to justify 1cm this report. Hurray! Hirafu are reporting 3cm on the mountain. So it's not a reset, but I would say worth a look. Especially if it remains bright this morning. As I write this there is a lot of cloud around but there is some blue sky and sun too in some directions. Changeable and varied early on. I suspect that the cloud might end up winning the day though and we might have to wait until the weekend for more clearer skies.
I have to post my report before the lifts open this morning so I don't have any lift related news for you this morning (sorry). There's a north-westerly wind but hopefully it won't be too pesky, but it might well be.
And now for something completely different...
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The 2021-2022 Niseko season so far: until the end of March 2022
It is time for my monthly recap and a look back at some observed snowfall numbers.
All of the data that I mention here is available - in much more detail - on the Snowfall analysis and Seasonal archives pages within this Niseko Now report. Those pages can easily be found from the Niseko Now menu – tabs on a larger screen, dropdowns on mobile. (I’m sure that is totally obvious to most of you, but apparently not to everyone. Even so, I promise I won’t point it out again!)
Anyway, this is how much snowfall I have measured during the month of March over the last nine years:
March 2022: 81cm
March 2021: 79cm
March 2020: 59cm
March 2019: 45cm
March 2018: 49cm
March 2017: 83cm
March 2016: 109cm
March 2015: 139cm
March 2014: 113cm
March 2013: 164cm
Not bad. That is about the same as last season and more than the few seasons before that. Still, it’s less than what we used to get a bit further back.
I reported snowfall from on 14 days in March 2022. That compares with on 11 days in March 2021 and on 12 days in March 2020.
Here is the total snowfall observed for the season up until the end of March:
2021/2022 season up to end of March 2022: 1135cm
2020/2021 season up to end of March 2021: 1201cm
2019/2020 season up to end of March 2020: 718cm
2018/2019 season up to end of March 2019: 945cm
2017/2018 season up to end of March 2018: 1247cm
2016/2017 season up to end of March 2017: 688cm
2015/2016 season up to end of March 2016: 986cm
2014/2015 season up to end of March 2015: 1141cm
2013/2014 season up to end of March 2014: 1150cm
2012/2013 season up to end of March 2013: 1459cm
Very respectable numbers.
To get an idea of what we might expect from the month of April, this is how much snowfall I have recorded in the Aprils of the last nine winter seasons:
April 2021: 9cm
April 2020: 10cm
April 2019: 6cm
April 2018: 13cm
April 2017: 0cm
April 2016: 6cm
April 2015: 3cm
April 2014: 13cm
April 2013: 32cm
I probably always say this, but basically, any fresh snow in April is a real bonus. And remember, my observed numbers come from base – there might be some snow at higher elevations when there is none at base, and I will of course do my best to report any if and when that happens.
There is also the local belief that you can usually add about 50% of base snowfall numbers to get an idea of what has fallen in higher areas.
OK, that's it for today. I will do an end-of-season wrap up in my last report of the season. That should be Thursday 5th May. There’s less to talk about in the last part of the season but I plan to post a report each morning until the ski lifts close at Hirafu and Annupuri. Gambarimasu!
See you tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -3℃, westerly wind, trace new snow, good visibility. Moiwa 800m: -4.2℃,WNW9.4m/s Annupuri 1150m: -7.9℃, WNW10.1m/s. Hirafu 1000m: -7.8℃, NW10.5m/s. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW15m/s, Kamui cape: W9m/s, 1019hPa, 1.0m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is moderately steep and a 10m/S westerly is bringing some cold air to the mountains. Coastal snow clouds also dropped a little snow overnight. Above 700m a cold wind has frozen the snow surface. All peak gates are expected to be open. The fresh cornice growth is likely to collapse and snow drift development over 40cm can also easily fracture. Snow drifts formed during periods of wind and snow can collapse and cause avalanches regardless of the presence of weak layers. Even if the winds drop it is better to stay off leeward snowdrift slopes for a while. Beware of full depth avalanches in the valley, they don't always happen on warm days. Brown bears are starting to come out of hibernation. They will descend into the valleys in search of water and food in the sun. It's a timid animal, but it's better not to bother them unnecessarily. It's spring but winter has returned for a short time.
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Planned ski area operations: Friday 1st April 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: 385cm (no change)
- Base: 170cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 3cm
- Base: 3cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad (* until 3rd April)
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad
- Hirafu Gondola (* until 3rd April)
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open until Thursday 5th May
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (no change)
- Base: 195cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 1cm
- Base: 1cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko HANAZONO plans to be open until Sunday 3rd April
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (no change)
- Base: 160cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko Annupuri plans to be open until Thursday 5th May
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 170cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko Village plans to be open until Sunday 3rd April
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Planned season:
- Niseko Moiwa plans to be open until Sunday 3rd April
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Friday 1st April 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 1135cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 98 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December and 22nd February) 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 337cm reported on 25 days March 2022 snowfall 81cm reported on 14 days April 2022 snowfall 0cm |
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.