Niseko Now: Tuesday 20th February 2018
- Feb 20, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 1123cm
Posted on Tuesday 20th February 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from here near Hirafu base.
And this morning I have 14cm of fresh snow to report, mostly from yesterday during the daytime, and light snow is currently falling.
I need to post my report early this morning and so at the moment I don't have any specific news of possibly lift disruptions due to windy conditions. My apologies.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 5.00am: -8°, 15cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: NW17.6m/s, 30cm new snow, cornice and snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -13°, strong NW wind, major cornice and snowdrift development. Hirafu 1250m: -15°, strong wind from varying directions, snowdrift development, 15cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NNW12m/s. Kamui Cape: WNW9m/s, 1013hPa, wave 2.0m.
A strong NW snow wind is blowing above the tree line with rapid snowdrift development and cornice growth on leeward slopes. From tests, snowdrifts are fracturing on a granular layer (from large wind and temperature gradient), causing 50cm surface avalanches. Mikaeri Bowl 800m, Osawa cornice face 1000m, all of Kozan no sawa, upper Fujihara no sawa, far side Higashi One the avalanche risk is high all day. Avoid riding cornice slopes, knolls and steep open slopes. Ride one by one from ridgeline. Avoid going near cornices.
Avalanches are a natural occurrence and only become an accident if people are involved. Danger is everywhere, by making wise decisions most avalanches can be avoided. Do over estimate your knowledge, skills and equipment. Make cautious choices.
The weather above 1000m is a lot different to the valley. Beware a sudden change in weather. Gate openings yet to be decided. Please listen to the patrols advice.
This avalanche report is published to prevent accidents of ski resort users. The avalanche risk is not that high when evaluating individual data. Avoid riding in valley bottom. Snow in the forest is fantastic, is your beacon switched on?
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Tuesday 20th February 2018
Resort specific information (operations subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts (apart from King Number 2) should be operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 515cm
- Base: 245cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts should be operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 390cm
- Base: 260cm
Niseko Village
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts (apart from the Country Road Chair lift) should be operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 390cm
- Base: 280cm
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Tuesday 20th February 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 1123cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 80 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (31st December) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 406cm reported on 27 days January 2018 snowfall 305cm reported on 26 days February 2018 snowfall 224cm 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.