Niseko Now: Monday 21st December 2020
- Dec 21, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 19cm
Snowfall at base this season 293cm
Posted on Monday 21st December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Another morning and there's another decent amount of fresh snow on the ground here in Hirafu and the Niseko region.
The ski areas are reporting 10-20cm at base and 10-20cm on upper areas this morning (as their 24hrs snowfall numbers). I have just myself measured 19cm. Lovely quality snow too, very light. Excellent.
There doesn't seem to be much of a wind this morning but visibility is very limited early morning. It is still very cold though not quite as much as yesterday.
I think we might get to enjoy some sunshine tomorrow along with milder temperatures and maybe on Wednesday too but snow is due back late week and over the weekend.
As far as I can tell lift operations remain the same this morning as we wait for those top lifts to open up and the mountain get fully connected. Niseko Grand Hirafu now has only five courses that are not available. It's always good to be able to write that list rather than the list of areas that are open, below, if you see what I mean. (It being shorter and meaning that more is open).
Large parts of the mountain are open and there's plenty of fresh snow for everyone to get to enjoy.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data. Cape Benkei: NNW16m/s. Cape Kamui: NW11m/s, 1015hPa, wave 2.0m. Kutchan Town: -6.4℃, W4.5m/s, snow depth 87cm, 1015.9hPa. Hanazono 1000m: -13.2℃, ESE17m/s. Hanazono 720: -10.1℃, NNW17m/s. Annupuri 1000m: -13℃, 15cm new snow, snow drift development, poor visibility. Moiwa Mountain Base: -8℃, 20cm new snow, snow depth 110cm.
The winter type pressure pattern continues with light westerly snow bearing wind on the seas and mountains. Snow is a bit wind packed and heavy. On the west side above 800m cornices and snowdrifts are slowly developing. Avalanche risk is low on 30 degree slopes below the tree line, however around 1000m areas like Kozan no Sawa sidewall where snow depth is increasing on steep slopes there is the risk of deep fracture surface avalanches. Do not hang around in the valley bottoms. The avalanche risk at Higash One 1000m cornice face, Haru no Taki, Mizuno no Sawa is increasing. Do not duck ropes to enter these areas.
The bushes are still thick around 600m and hard to get through. The snow is heavier than yesterday and hard to get moving in. Yesterday Gate 6 Moiwa had a test opening and is expected to open today. The Mikaeri forest road is not open yet though, so you will not be able to get back from Goshiki/ Mikaeri areas. Until the weather settles down better not to venture too far off piste. Wear a beacon and helmet. Be aware of a sudden change in weather. Always be cautious.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 21st December 2020
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+10cm)
- Base: 130cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
All courses open except:
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Konayuki
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 162cm (+2cm)
- Base: 115cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 130cm (+0cm)
- Base: 100cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
Courses available:
- Utopia
- Silver
- Shirakaba
- Family
- Paradise
- Dynamic
- Junior
- Challenge
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 130cm (+0cm)
- Base: 100cm (+15cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
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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.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Monday 21st December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 293cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 22 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 231cm reported on 16 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.