Niseko Now: Sunday 1st March 2015
- Mar 1, 2015
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 1002cm
Posted on Sunday 1st March 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Morning from the Niseko area and welcome to March!
No fresh snow to report this morning and clouds over the region. It's a rather grey morning actually after the fine and clearer start to the day yesterday. I managed to join the crowds and find myself some nice pockets of snow.
There's a light to moderate southerly wind in places, but not enough to be affecting the lifts at the start of the day.
We should be enjoying some more fresh snow as well soon, with it perhaps starting to fall before the lifts close for the day today and to continue at least through tomorrow. Fingers crossed for some decent numbers and it keeping on the colder side of what is forecast.
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OK so as promised time to take a look at some numbers just for some fun.
Here's the snowfall observed by myself here by the base area in Hirafu...
February 2014: 178cm
February 2015: 196cm
So a bit more snow last month than the same month last season. The last 5 days of the month really helped us out there!
Last season up until end of February 2014: 1037cm
This season up until end of February 2015: 1002cm
We're just a bit behind the overall haul for the season so far as of the end of February, but managed to hit 10m of observed snowfall.
The big difference this season is December and January kind of 'swapping positions' - with lots more snowfall in December this season than last, but quite a bit less in January this season than last. It kind of adds up to there being quite a bit less 'fresh' in the first two months of 2015 than we had last season.
Looking at the other Now reports makes for interesting reading too, with a similar kind of story in quite a few areas.
Now on to the Japan Meteorological Agency statistics, coming to you from the Kutchan town area a bit lower down.
February 2014: 130cm
February 2015: 167cm
So those numbers also reflecting slightly more this February than last.
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How about March?
Last season I observed 113cm. Let's double that this season, ok Snow Gods?!
Remember there's always going to be more up on the mountain than down at base, and probably 1.5 times more is not too off the mark in general.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -5C, no new snow. Moiwa 800m: light winds, no new snow, -7C. Annupuri 1000m: snowpack 315cm. Hirafu 1000m: SW5m/s, -7C, no new snow. Annupuri peak 1308m: wind SW 10.8m/s, -10.0C. Cape Benkei: SSW3m/s, Cape Kamui: S8m/s, pressure 1020hPa, wave 0.7m.
The pressure gradient is shallow and the sea and mountains are calm. Snow is stable and general avalanche risk is low. All peak gates are expected to be open. Do not play around cornices, they might suddenly collapse. Making a kicker out in the forest is fun, but think about if there is an injury, how will you get out? Will rescuers be able to get to you and help?
Avalanches are not the only danger in the mountains. This information is issued for the prevention of all accidents. Do not try and sneak past the patrol to duck ropes. If you want to go out of bounds you must use the gates. Have a good day.
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Official resort snow depths:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 400cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 300cm
Base - 180cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 370cm
Base - 180cm
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Sunday 1st March 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 1002cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 71 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (15th & 26th December and 11th February) November 2014 snowfall 30cm reported on 5 days December 2014 snowfall 519cm reported on 25 days January 2015 snowfall 257cm reported on 23 days February 2015 snowfall 196cm reported on 18 days March 2015 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.