Niseko Now: Monday 20th February 2023
- Feb 20, 2023
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 875cm
Posted on Monday 20th February 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Another 10-15cm of snow since yesterday and as the ski areas open for the morning we have generally cloudy skies but with a hint of the sun trying to break through. As I feel I have said quite a lot recently, the snow clouds will probably not be far away.
We are also host to some pesky wind on the mountains this morning. As of 8:30am, all of the top lifts are on hold, as are the gondola lifts at Hirafu, Village and Annupuri. That shiny new(er) gondola at Hanazono says boo to the wind and is open (though perhaps at a slower speed).
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Following a comment I made last week about our fab snowfall consistency, a few people have asked if I have ever been skiing or snowboarding in other regions of Japan.
Unfortunately, the answer is that while I have a fair bit of experience around Hokkaido over the years, I have only limited skiing experience in Honshu. And it was many years ago. But I would love to experience all the places I have heard about for so many years.
SnowJapan makes it quite clear that they recommend not directly comparing the reports on the site. That is one reason why the (new site) system is not set up as some sort of 'competition' and each section is self contained. If you want to compare, the data is all there - in abundance and easily accessibly. I totally agree with that stance - it's not a competition.
So many factors make up the ski experience, and snowfall is just one of those (though, of course, a very important one!) Some places get more snow than others. Some get less snow down to base. More snow doesn't necessarily mean better snow. Some regions have much steeper terrain than others. Etc, etc. And people like different stuff.
I would like to spend some time in places like Hakuba, Myoko and Shiga Kogen, amongst others. There are just so many. I have heard lots of good things about those places, and it sounds like they offer a somewhat different experience to what I am used to here in Niseko. And that sounds good to me.
Unfortunately, I'm pretty busy every morning throughout the winter doing something that requires me to be here in Niseko. And that makes a long winter trip to Honshu rather tricky. Maybe one day!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -5C, 15cm wind affected snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -8.0C, 20cm snowfall with snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -10.9C, WNW9.5m/s, stormy, bad visibility and snowdrift development. Mizuno no Sawa: -9.4℃, NNW6.8C. Hirafu Hanazono: -10.8C, NNW3.8ms/, snowdrift development. Hanazono#3: -7.8C, NNW6.1m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape N20m/s, Kamui cape NNE14m/s, 1003hPa, 3.1m waves.
The wind picked up during the night and the new snowdrifts in leeward slopes above 800m elevation are likely to slide from yesterday’s (Feb 19th) low-pressure snowfall layer. The wind died down before dawn, however picked up again around 7am making snowdrifts and cornices develop further. The avalanche risk is high in open steep slopes above the treeline and 800m elevation. Gates #2, 3 & 4 will be shut for the sake of all resort users. Other gates opening is not determined at this stage, please respect the ski patrol’s decisions. Do not cross boundary ropes. Many of the avalanche accidents are triggered by people skiing unstable slabs of snow. The reason why most accidents in Niseko occur during storms is because people ski wind-affected snow slabs during their unstable, structurally weak, development stage, and not necessarily because of prominent weak layer slides that are mostly seen under sunny weather. Pay attention to how the snow has been accumulating in the past. Most of the avalanches during winter occur in leeward slopes with heavy loads of snowdrift under high wind weather. This information is based on objective and mechanical facts and is issued for minimizing accidents in and around the Niseko area. We ask for your understanding of the nature of the Niseko Rules and the Avalanche Information. This information is not a business tool.
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Ski area information for Monday 20th February 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
** WIND AFFECTING SOME LIFTS AT THE START OF THE DAY **
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm (?)
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 370cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Ace Number 4 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 310cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 250cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 200cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 245cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 220cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Monday 20th February 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 875cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 77 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th & 28th January, 6th February) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm reported on 27 days February 2023 snowfall 190cm reported on 18 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.