Niseko Now: Tuesday 21st December 2021
- Dec 21, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 222cm
Posted on Tuesday 21st December 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have just measured another 15cm of snow since my last report, with steady snow yesterday and a bit more overnight. I'm pleased to say that it is top quality stuff too.
This morning depending on which way you look you'll see different things. Cloud or clearer some perhaps unexpected blue sky even. That probably won't last long as we are still told to expect steady incoming snowfall. The clearer skies above the mountain should make for some fine early morning turns though.
There's not much of a wind at all this morning, which is always good to be able to say.
From today the Hanazono Gondola will be open until 7:00pm for night skiing. The other lifts at Hanazono close at 3:00pm.
The Dynamic course now open at Annupuri.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -2℃, 10cm snow in 12h. Moiwa700m: -3℃, calm, 15cm new snow. Annupuri1000m: -6℃, calm, 15cm new snow. Coastal data Benkei cape: NNE3m/s, Kamui cape: calm, 1006 hPa, 0.9m waves. Mountain weather data n/a.
Calm morning with light snowfall under 1000m elevation as the low pressure band moved away. Looking at the data, snowfall transition and observation, the general avalanche risk in the Niseko mountain range under 1100m elevation is low.
The snowpack around 1000m elevation is still thin and out of bounds riding is yet to open. The wind remained strong above 1300m until this morning and made snowdrifts develop in the leeward slopes. 60cm thick surface slab avalanche occurrence should be considered in those slopes. Triggered by Dec 18th layer made of temperature difference. Caution is required in wide open steep slopes of Mt Yotei and/or Chisenupuri, knolls and gullies’ sidewalls.
The snowpack is growing slowly and the snow in the treeruns under 800m is good. Beware of the creeks as they are not fully buried yet. The river water is literally ice-cold. Beware also of tree-stumps. Have a nice day.
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Planned ski area operations: Tuesday 21st December 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 220cm (+10cm)
- Base: 110cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
All courses open apart from the following:
- Path to King
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 165cm (+3cm)
- Base: 105cm (-10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 18cm
Planned lift operations:
- 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: 130cm (no change)
- Base: 90cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 13cm
Planned lift operations:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
Planned open courses:
- Utopia
- Silver
- Shirakaba
- Junior
- Paradise
- Family
- Dynamic
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 100cm (no change)
- Base: 55cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Tuesday 21st December 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 222cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 19 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (18th December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 137cm reported on 13 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.