Niseko Now: Monday 20th January 2020
- Jan 20, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 439cm
Posted on Monday 20th January 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Well, I was hoping for (expecting?) more, but we will just have to make do with just about 2cm of fresh snowfall at base this morning.
That ain't going to fill in tracks from a busy weekend, so we will have to look forward to upcoming deliveries to do that which will be... heck, I don't know! But hopefully later today so I can bring you a fun report tomorrow. Stronger winds are expected too.
Right now it is mostly just cloudy. There is some very light snow still falling in some places (but it is very light indeed). There even seems to be some light blue sky trying to show through the thin cloud in places.
All lifts that plan to be 'go', are go. I hope you have a good day.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6.00am: -3°, 2cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: 3.1m/s92 deg ENE, -4.7°. Hirafu 1000m: 1.4m/s 339deg NNW, -7.1°. Hanazono 720m: 0.8m/s 313 deg NW, -4.9°. Niseko Village Mizuno no Sawa 900m: 1.5m/s 7 deg N, -5.9° Coastal data: Benkei Cape:SSE3m/s. Kamui Cape NE2m/s, 1009hPa, wave 0.7m.
Warm pre-low pressure snowfall has begun. As the volume increases, a "flow-type" avalanche with an unclear fracture surface is likely to occur, even on a forested 30-degree slope. Be careful around 1000m Osawa and Kozan no Sawa left side forested areas. Following the low pressure, wind will pick up and expect a hard wind slab to develop on leeward slopes. The avalanche risk around 1000m will increase. Accidents are more likely to occur during snowfall. A major avalanche disaster has also occurred in Annapurna Mountains in the Nepal Himalaya. Always be aware of future snowfall trends.
Hanazono gate 9 is expected to open today. The left side is a better course to take due to lack of snow. Please use the gate to go to out off bounds areas and listen to the patrols advice. With the low light the snow surface is hard to read. Helmets and beacons are not mandatory but are recommended. Gate openings are yet undecided. Beware of a sudden change in weather. Best to not go too far today.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 220cm
- Base: 85cm
All lifts are normally operating EXCEPT:
- King Number 2 quad lift (this lift is normally rested)
All courses normally open
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Ace Family quad until 8:30pm
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad until 8:20pm
- Hirafu Gondola until 8:10pm
- Holiday Number 1 pair until 8:30pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 145cm
- Base: 93cm
All lifts are normally operating
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 155cm
- Base: 95cm
All lifts are normally operating
Lift scheduled for late operations:
- Jumbo Number 1 quad until 8:30pm
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 165cm
- Base: 100cm
All lifts normally operating EXCEPT:
- Country Road (this lift is normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Annupuri Village Gondola until 8:00pm
- Village Express until 8:00pm
- Banzai Chair until 8:00pm
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Monday 20th January 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 439cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 45 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (17th January) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 207cm reported on 21 days January 2020 snowfall 147cm reported on 14 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.