Niseko Now: Saturday 22nd December 2018
- Dec 22, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 293cm
Posted on Saturday 22nd December 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Actually rather pleased to be able to report 9cm of fresh snowfall on the ground from overnight.
The big news is that from this morning the top lifts at Niseko Annupuri and Niseko Village, as well as the top King Number 4 lift at Niseko Grand Hirafu, are open. (Ace Number 4 pair lift not yet).
Hurray!
And it looks to me like pretty much all courses are now open and available.
It's always great to be able to say that.
(Though please note that top gates are not).
And once we get past this rather mild weekend, there's lots more snow lined up in the coming week. Still, like today, mild in Niseko sometimes means that it is snowing.
Yes, I really love being here.
-----
Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -1℃, 15cm snowfall in 12 hours, snowing. Moiwa 800m: -2℃, light breeze, 20cm snowfall, snowing and 500m visibility. Mikaeri junction 750m: -2℃, W5m/s, 20cm snowfall, 190cm snowpack, no snowdrift development and snowing. Coastal data Bekei cape: SW3m/s, Kamui cape: SSW7m/s, 1017hPa, 0.7m waves. Hirafu ridgeline 1250m: -3℃, 15cm snowfall, light wind. Annupuri 1000m: 180cm snowpack, light wind and calm.
The isobars are spread out and the mountain/ocean weather is calm. A small low-pressure system delivered a bit of snowfall overnight. The mountain is blanketed in new snow and this layer will form a prominent Dec 22nd layer in the future snowpack. The general avalanche risk low for today.
The peak chairs will start operating from today. The snowpack is still shallow. Some rocks are still to be expected on-piste above 1000m. Bushes are also still present in 900m elevation areas. Please use caution.
Access gates and the peak is yet to open, but is in working process. Please allow a little more time. Remember that the Niseko Rules are key to keep the freedom and safety of Niseko’s out of bounds riding.
Please refrain from ducking ropes to go out of bounds. The groomers’ condition is really good. Respect the Rules and have a great day. Pray for snow!
---
Ski resort operation information: Saturday 22nd December 2018
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 resort):
- Peak: 200cm
- Base: 90cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts apart from Ace Number 4 pair lift and King Number 2 quad lifts are operating
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 133cm
- Base: 90cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All Hanazono lifts are operating
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono Courses:
- All courses
-----
Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 170cm
- Base: 90cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts planned to be operating
-----
Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 170cm
- Base: 95cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts apart from Morino Chair and Country Road Chair operating
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Saturday 22nd December 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 293cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 26 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 25cm (23rd November and 14th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 209cm reported on 18 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.