Niseko Now: Sunday 20th February 2022
- Feb 20, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 24cm
Snowfall at base this season 935cm
Posted on Sunday 20th February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I bring good news this morning. We have had a very nice layer of fresh snow since yesterday. I measured 24cm of it and it is still snowing. It's not the lightest, driest and fluffiest of snow, due to it being (big picture) relatively mild. But tomorrow looks like it should be somewhat colder and more snowfall is due over the next few days as well. That all sounds good.
Looks like the top lift at Hanazono might be a bit delayed but other than that everywhere should be opening as planned.
I hope you have a good Sunday.
I'm going to have some toast now.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -4℃, light winds, 25cm snowfall in last 12hrs, poor visibility. Moiwa800m: -7℃, light winds, 40cm snowfall in last 12hrs. Annupuri1150m: -7℃, moderate W winds, 20cm snowfall, snowdrift development. Hirafu1250m: -7℃, W5m/s, 20cm new snow, crested snow drift development due to S wind overnight, poor visibility. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW10m/s, Kamui cape: WSW9m/s, 1009hPa, 0.7m waves.
We are currently under a north/south pressure trough which has dropped heavy snow overnight, easing at dawn. Crested snowdrift development slowly continues on the NW slopes due the southerly wind. From morning data and observation the general avalanche risk is low. Gates are expected to open depending on lift operations. Please listen to the patrols advice before exiting the gates. Snowfall is a little damp, low pressure crystal snow - relatively fast. At the moment slab formation is minimal, however be careful of fractures on steeper wind influenced slopes. Ride one by one. Be careful of cracks hidden by new snowfall. As this current weather pattern progresses expect a strong storm to develop. Act accordingly. There is no safety guarantee out there. The snow is good today.
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Planned ski area operations: Sunday 20th February 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: 405cm (+20cm)
- Base: 215cm (+15cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 345cm (+15cm)
- Base: 250cm (+3cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 21cm
- Base: 25cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 320cm (no change)
- Base: 220cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 210cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Sunday 20th February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 935cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 76 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) 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 218cm 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.