Niseko Now: Tuesday 21st January 2020
- Jan 21, 2020
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 33cm
Snowfall at base this season 472cm
Posted on Tuesday 21st January 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning all.
And it is excellent news this morning.
33cm of snowfall to add to my report this morning as of 8:30am, and pretty much all of that coming overnight. And at base too, so we can expect more than that higher up the mountain. It is still snowing too.
Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Hanazono are both adding around 40cm to their official snow depth numbers this morning. (The other two are much more modest in their increases, but that's another discussion point).
All that matters this morning though is that there is an impressive amount of fresh snowfall that will have given us a very welcome mountain-wide refresh.
Lifts operations appear to be starting as normal at the start of the day.
Love it.
Have fun and take care.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6.00am: -6°, moderate winds, 25cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: 8.9m/s 354 deg N, -8.1°, mild blizzard, 40cm snowdrift development. Hirafu 1000m: 7.8m/s 354deg N, -10.9° mountain base snowfall 30cm. Hanazono 720m: 5.5m/s 353 deg N, -8.6°. Niseko Village Mizuno n Sawa 900m: 2.2m/s 332 deg NNW , -9.8° Coastal data: Benkei Cape:N11m/s. Kamui Cape N9m/s, 1012hPa, wave 0.9m. Annupuri 1000m: snow depth 145cm.
A moderately strong northerly wind is blowing above 800m and snowdrifts are slowly developing on the Jan 18th layer (radiative cooling / solar melt) up to 60cm, depending on location. From observation the avalanche risk in the morning is low. However the risk will increase sharply if wind and snowfall increases during the day. Avoid stimulating cornices and knolls. The wind and snow is expected to intensify above 800m during the day. Best to stay a way from steep open slopes like Kozan no Sawa side wall, Osawa cornice slope and steep slopes near Higashi One today. Many accidents occur during blizzard conditions. Developing snow drifts(soft slabs), with or without a weak layer, are not as stable as compacted snow and can easily collapse.
Opening of peak gates is yet undecided. Please follow the patrols instructions. The snow in the forests is good. Is your beacon on? It is strongly recommended to carry a shovel, probe, short rope and to wear a helmet. Have a good day.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 245cm
- Base: 125cm
All lifts are normally operating EXCEPT:
- King Number 2 quad lift (this lift is normally rested)
All courses normally open
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Ace Family quad until 8:30pm
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad until 8:20pm
- Hirafu Gondola until 8:10pm
- Holiday Number 1 pair until 8:30pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 183cm
- Base: 123cm
All lifts are normally operating
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 155cm
- Base: 100cm
All lifts are normally operating
Lift scheduled for late operations:
- Jumbo Number 1 quad until 8:30pm
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 175cm
- Base: 100cm
All lifts normally operating EXCEPT:
- Country Road (this lift is normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Annupuri Village Gondola until 8:00pm
- Village Express until 8:00pm
- Banzai Chair until 8:00pm
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Tuesday 21st January 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 472cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 46 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 33cm (21st January) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 207cm reported on 21 days January 2020 snowfall 180cm reported on 15 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.