Niseko Now: Saturday 21st January 2023
- Jan 21, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 17cm
Snowfall at base this season 549cm
Posted on Saturday 21st January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Cold, wind and snow. It's a bit wild this morning. Lots of lifts are sitting it out at the start of the day. Basically, it's limited operations and lower mountain only at the start of the day.
The snowfall numbers from Hirafu (see list below) are curious this morning. It might be the wind (blowing it about), but more likely just left over numbers that haven't been updated since yesterday. Niseko Village is still stuck on 0cm every morning. I'll be making some further comments on that kind of thing early next week.
Weather conditions are not very friendly this morning and dangers are increased.
Extra care is required.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
MMountain base -6C, 20cm new snow, blizzard, 80cm snowdrift development. Moiwa 800m: -9.8C, WNW19.1m, strong wind and snow, major snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -12.7C, NW9.8m/s, blizzard, cornice and snowdrift development, grooming difficulties on upper mountain. Mizuno no Sawa: -11.2C, N12.2m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: NNE12.2m/s. Hanzono#3: -9.3C, N8.2m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NNW12m/s, Kamui Cape NNE10m/s, 1018hPa, 3.6m wave.
The passing low pressure system has brought stormy conditions to the coast and mountains. There is rapid snowdrift development at all elevations due to the strong N wind. The avalanche risk is extreme, all gates will be closed. Please listen to and follow patrol`s instructions. Snowdrifts are deep and heavy and have piled up without any consolidation making grooming difficult as the snow doesn't want to compact. Around 10am the isobars are expected to loosen up and the wind drop. However on steep slopes and around knolls the risk of 100cm avalanches will continue. The surrounding mountains will all have the same avalanche conditions. Be careful of frostbite. The weather will improve temporarily tomorrow. Visibility is poor, be careful on the roads.
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Ski area information for Saturday 21st January 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
*** MANY LIFTS AFFECTED BY WIND THIS MORNING ***
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm (not updated perhaps?)
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 95cm (-10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 22cm
- Base: 21cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 225cm (+17cm since yesterday)
- Base: 181cm (+21cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 155cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Saturday 21st January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 549cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 49 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (2nd and 16th January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 196cm 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.