Niseko Now: Wednesday 20th January 2021
- Jan 20, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 27cm
Snowfall at base this season 745cm
Posted on Wednesday 20th January 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Lots and lots of fresh snow once again this morning.
This morning Hirafu and Hanazono are both reporting over 30cm of fresh snowfall; Annupuri and Village are reporting 10-15cm; the Avalanche Report (below) is reporting a whopping 50cm from Moiwa base.
I have just measured 27cm for my report.
Summary: lots.
It remains cold, it remains a bit windy on the mountain and top lifts (other than the Hanazono one) are all on hold at 8:30am.
After today the forecasts do seem to be showing us a run of days without snow, or at least without much snow. There may even be some sunshine come the weekend.
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Some people have asked about those official snow depth numbers and how they don't seem to reflect new snowfall and sometimes even go down when there is fresh snow being reported. I have said this before but I would suggest that you basically just don't over think them. Hirafu usually move their numbers more than Annupuri and Village, who often don't seem to move them at all. They are what they are. Just another data point, but certainly not the most important one.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data 6:25am. Cape Benkei:NW18m/s. Cape Kamui: WNW12m/s, 1024hPa, wave 2.2m. Hanazono 1000m: -15.5℃, SW4.5m/s. Hanazono 720: -11.2℃, NNW8.3m/s. Moiwa 800m: -12.6℃, NNW10.7m/s. Annupuri 1100m: -15.7℃, W6.5m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -15.3℃, W2.9m/s. Mizuno no Sawa Top: -14.4℃, NW3.1m/s. Kutchan Town: -8.1℃,NW3.3m/s, snow depth 164cm, 1024.0hPa. Moiwa base: -12, lightwinds, 50cm of new snow in the last 24hrs.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is starting to flatten, however strong winds continue above 800m. At 1000m on the west side of the mountain the wind peaked 3 times overnight. Over 25m/s at midnight, 2am and 6am. Snowdrift development is drastic at 200+cm and continuing to grow. Cornice growth is also massive. 5am impact tests at Moiwa 800m, showed a 70cm fracture with high speed propagation.
The wind is expected to weaken and snow drifts start to stabilise. However from observation and data the avalanche risk is high this morning. When the lifts start running it is best not to ride out of bounds. Below 800m on knolls and cornice slopes the avalanche risk is also high. Traversing under cornices and knolls will trigger avalanches. Do not duck ropes to enter strictly off limits areas like Haru no Taki. Gate openings yet to be decided. Please respect the patrol's decisions.
Snowdrift stabilisation will generally be delayed, dependent on aspect and elevation, due to the variable wind and snow conditions. The snow is good in the trees but heavy and deep, snowboarders should carry poles. Is your beacon on? Helmets are strongly recommended. There is no guarantee of safety in the winter mountains, be very careful. Anyway the snow keeps coming.
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 20th January 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 350cm (+20cm)
- Base: 210cm (+20cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Top lift on hold at 8:30am
- Planned: Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, King Number 3 Quad, King Number 4, Swinging Monkey
- Ace Family Quad and Ace Number 2 Center Four lifts operate for night skiing
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm (+20cm)
- Base: 210cm (+25cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Top lift on hold at 8:30am
- Planned: All three lifts
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (+0cm)
- Base: 180cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Top lift and gondola on hold at 8:30am
- Planned: Annupuri Gondola, Dream Quad, Jumbo Quad Number 1, Jumbo Pair Number 4
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm (+0cm)
- Base: 150cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Top lift and gondola on hold at 8:30am
- Planned: Niseko Gondola, Community Chair, Banzai Chair and Wonderland Chair
- Community Chair and Banzai Chair lifts operate for night skiing
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
The Ace Pair Number 1, 3 and 4, King Pair Number 1 lift and King Quad Number 2 lifts are being rested for the season at Niseko Grand Hirafu.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Wednesday 20th January 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 745cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 51 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 34cm (31st December and 18th January) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 335cm reported on 20 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.