Niseko Now: Wednesday 21st January 2015
- Jan 21, 2015
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 773cm
Posted on Wednesday 21st January 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello from Niseko, and good morning to you all. Another 15cm this morning. It seems to the fashionable number of late!
There was some snow falling earlier on but it's not now and I can see more blue sky once again over the mountain. Looking over towards Mt Yotei, that lovely mountain has a big dark grey cloud over it's summit at the moment but the sun is managing to shine through to the side making for some dramatic scenery.
It's a cold morning. Bit of sun, bit of blue sky, cloud, flurries of snow at times. Mixed bunch of conditions expected this morning.
More snow clouds moving in tomorrow.
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Excite resort news!
The King Pair Number 1 lift started operating yesterday. Welcome to the season, lazy bones! Here's what Niseko Grand Hirafu says - 'we’re very sorry that lift operation has started late this year due to a delay in the system required for safe operation'. Still seems a bit odd to me (and it still leaves the King Number 2 not moving), but there you go... I'm happy that it's moving. Perhaps they can get working on the system required for the safe operation of King Number 2 too! ;)
The King Pair Number 1 lift will be doing it's thing from 10am until 4pm every day until 22nd March.
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Resort specific news at time of writing - subject to change during the day
Niseko Grand Hirafu:
Looks set to be open as planned this morning.
'Early Morning' lift available daily until 1st February (for 500 yen, Ace Quad Number 2 lift from 8am until 8:20am).
Niseko Hanazono:
Looks set to be open as planned this morning.
Niseko Village:
Looks set to be open as planned this morning.
'Early Morning Gondola' available Saturdays and Sundays until February 8th (for 1300 yen, Gondola open from 7:30am until 8:30am).
Niseko Annupuri:
Looks set to be open as planned this morning.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -6C, 20cm snowfall in 12 hours, calm. Moiwa 800m: NE breeze, -7C, 20cm snowfall. Annupuri 1150m: N8m/s, -10C, 20cm snowfall. Hirafu ridge: mild wind, 20cm snowfall. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW12m/s, Kamui cape SW10m/s, 1026hPa, 1.5m waves.
A high-pressure system is flowing over the western Sea of Japan and the weather is ameliorating. According to observations and snowfall transition, the snowpack is settling down and the general avalanche risk is lowering. Peak gates are scheduled to open. Please follow the ski patrol’s instruction and step out of the gates. Wind-affected steep slopes, such as 1100m Kozan no sawa (Backbowl) sidewalls, Osawa cornice slopes and Higashi-One, are still unstable and should be avoided during the morning. Riding stimulation could lead to failure of deeper weak layers and trigger an avalanche. Relatively high risks also remain in Mikaeri bowl during the morning. Slides in tight gullies would easily bury a person deep down at the bottom. Consequences can be big. Avoid staying put at the bottom of the valleys and carefully choose your touring route. Better start from slopes close to the gates. Have you switched your avalanche transceiver on? Avalanche safety equipments aren’t fashion accessories, it’s good to have them, but need to be familiar with their functions as the time will come without warning.
Pretty good conditions today. Be safe and have a nice day.
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Wednesday 21st January 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 773cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 47 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (15th and 26th December) November 2014 snowfall 30cm reported on 5 days December 2014 snowfall 519cm reported on 25 days January 2015 snowfall 224cm 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.