Niseko Now: Monday 20th December 2021
- Dec 20, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 16cm
Snowfall at base this season 207cm
Posted on Monday 20th December 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's really snowing very nicely as I sit here writing this report. The kind of snow that sees those cm building up. People who are looking for some clear blue skies are going to be disappointed over the next week with consistent snow lined up on the forecast.
It doesn't feel windy out there so it should be a very fine morning.
Good news from Hirafu where only five official runs remain closed; all others now open. Out of bounds areas and gates are not yet open.
As I am about to post the report at 8:30am the slick 6-person base lift at Hanazono appears to be on hold. Not sure why. That thing looks slick even when it's on hold. Though I'd prefer it were moving. ;)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Base: -7℃, 12cm snowfall in the last 12hrs. Moiwa700m: -7℃, light WNW wind, good visibility. Annupuri 1000m: -8℃, 20cm new snow, light WNW wind. Benkei Cape: NW13m/s, Kamui cape: WSW12m/s, pressure 1011hPa, wave 1.2m. Other mountain Data n/a.
15-20cm of new snow, without wind, has fallen overnight. Snowdrifts development is small and general avalanche risk is low. The gates are not ready yet and the out of bounds areas are still closed.
This information and the Niseko Rules are implemented for accident prevention. Since this mountain is not a wild untouched mountain, but a ski resort, it is necessary to set some kind of rule to avoid accidents that can happen too easily. The Niseko Rules have been implemented out of necessity from past repeated tragic accidents. They are not Rules to hold back the freedom of skiers/snowboarders. Ski resorts are here for all levels of snow enthusiasts. One track under the boundary rope could lead many others to follow it, and eventually trigger an accident. We strongly ask all resort visitors to respect the Niseko Rules. The inbounds snow condition is fantastic today. Have a good one.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 20th December 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+10cm)
- Base: 100cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 30cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
All courses open apart from the following:
- Path to King
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 162cm (-3cm)
- Base: 115cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 18cm
Planned lift operations:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 130cm (no change)
- Base: 85cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
Planned open courses:
- Utopia
- Silver
- Shirakaba
- Junior
- Paradise
- Family
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 100cm (no change)
- Base: 55cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Monday 20th December 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 207cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 18 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (18th December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 122cm reported on 12 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.