Niseko Now: Wednesday 21st February 2018
- Feb 21, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 13cm
Snowfall at base this season 1136cm
Posted on Wednesday 21st February 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
This morning I have 13cm of fresh snowfall to report with most of that coming during the day yesterday.
With that being adding to my totals, I have observed 237cm for the month of February up until today, and the total for the whole season rises to 1136cm.
Impressive!
We have a week left in February and with regular snow on the forecast it seems very likely that we are going to surpass the number for February 2016 (266cm). Can we get up to the 316cm observed in February 2013?
And how about those season totals. Already I have observed more than each of the previous four seasons - and close on double what I observed during that 'Epic' season ;) last year - and the numbers are creeping up on the 2012/2013 season.
Excite!
The snowfall usually slows down and there's not as much during the month of March of course, but we can still usually expect around 100cm more or less.
It's noticeably colder this morning and - without wanting to sound boring - it's snowing. :)
Top lifts appear to be opening as planned this morning. Yey!
Oh hold on (as I am about to post this)... it looks like the Gondola and top lift at Annupuri are affected by windy conditions over there. Doh!
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -8°, 5cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -13°, NW12m/s, 20cm new snow, cornice development. Annupuri 1150m: -16°, NW20m/s, 30cm new snow, cornice and snowdrift development. Hirafu 1250m: -18°, SW10m/s, 20cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NNW15m/s. Kamui Cape: WNW13m/s, 1013hPa, wave 2.2m.
We are in the middle of a typical winter weather pattern and a westerly snow wind 10-15m/s is blowing above 800m on west side, cornices and snowdrifts are slowly becoming very large. Snowdrift development is not uniform and breaks easy from an inconsistent surface. Beware of cornice collapse or rider stimulated avalanche at following locations: Mikaeri bowl cornice slope, Osawa cornice slope, Kozan no sawa side wall cornice slope, Fujihara no sawa cornice slope and Higashi One cornice slope.
Cornice growth is has been massive and they are breaking much further back than you would expect. Do not get too close, if you go down with one when it collapses you will get hurt, or worse. From observation and data, the general avalanche risk is low. Below the tree line in the forest snow is good. Avoid the valley terrain under cornices and steep knolls.
Gate opening is yet undecided and dependant on lift operation. Please listen to the patrols advice. Entering strictly off limits areas is prohibited under Niseko Rules. Do not duck ropes to go out of bounds. Beacons are recommended, they may save your or your friends life. Beware bad visibility and frostbite. Have a good day.
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Wednesday 21st February 2018
Resort specific information (operations subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts (apart from King Number 2) should be operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 515cm
- Base: 260cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts should be operating
- Annupuri Gondola and top Jumbo Number 4 lifts are on hold at the start of the day
Official snow depth:
- Top: 400cm
- Base: 260cm
Niseko Village
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts (apart from the Country Road Chair lift) should be operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 400cm
- Base: 280cm
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Wednesday 21st February 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 1136cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 81 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (31st December) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 406cm reported on 27 days January 2018 snowfall 305cm reported on 26 days February 2018 snowfall 237cm reported on 17 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.