Niseko Now: Wednesday 20th February 2019
- Feb 20, 2019
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 892cm
Posted on Wednesday 20th February 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Lots of cloud yesterday with some blue skies once again in the morning at times.
It's a cloudy and calm morning with what looks like limited visibility on the slopes at the start of the day. And there's just a dusting of snow to report - I am able to add 1cm to this report. Any fresh snow is good to see of course, but 1cm is hardly going to make much of a difference on the slopes.
It is going to be a mild day and it feels very much so early on. We might well get another dusting tonight but sun is forecast for tomorrow and the forecasts are still showing mostly fine weather (as in sun) rather than snow.
Welcome back Ace Family Quad lift - opening as normal this morning.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain Base 6.00am: -0.5°, no new snow. Moiwa 800m: -1.9°, SW0.20m/s. Mikaeri Weather Station: minor snowdrift development. Annupuri 1120m: snow depth 250cm, 1100m: -3.9, NW1.30m/s. Hirafu Peak: light winds, -6°,1000m: -7.8°, N4.50m/s. Village: Mizuno no Sawa: -2.17°, NNW1.1m/s. Kutchan Weather Station: -0.7°, NW0.5m/s, snow depth 170cm. Cape Benkei: calm, Cape Kamui: ENE3m/s, pressure 1014hPa, wave 0.7m.
There is very little atmospheric pressure gradient, the sea and mountains are calm and only a little snow has fallen. The mountains are all tracked out and conditions are hard. On steep slopes above 1000m the thin snow can easily avalanche by rider stimulation. If you fall on it, it will take you away like a magic carpet. Even a shallow avalanche will take you to the valley bottom and bury you tightly. By careful in areas like Kozan no Sawa. There is a deep crack about 200m up from Annupuri Gate 2 on Annupuri sub peak. It cant be seen from above, be careful. Cracks are starting to appear around the mountain.
Today and tomorrow the Sapporo Olympic committee will be conducting a site survey at Yu no Sawa for the Olympic downhill event. This area is in a strictly off limits area and only accessible to committee members. Niseko Rules strictly prohibits entry to Yu no Sawa and Haru no Taki. Please understand and cooperate with the rules. Visibility is poor and be careful of a sudden change in weather.
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Ski resort operation information: Wednesday 20th February 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 355cm
- Base: 160cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be opening as planned (Ace Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad lifts rested)
- The Ace Family quad (until 8:30pm), Ace Center 4 quad (8:20pm), Hirafu Gondola (until 8:10pm) and Holiday Number 1 pair (until 8:30pm) lifts are normally open during the evening
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 260cm
- Base: 210cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be opening as planned
- The Hanazono lifts are normally open until 3:50pm (Number 3 until 3:30pm)
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 330cm
- Base: 180cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be opening as planned
- The Jumbo 1 lift is normally open until 8:30pm during the evening
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 330cm
- Base: 180cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be opening as planned (Country Road lift rested)
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are normally open until 8:00pm during the evening
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Wednesday 20th February 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 892cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 76 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 333cm reported on 26 days January 2019 snowfall 285cm reported on 25 days February 2019 snowfall 190cm reported on 17 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.