Niseko Now: Saturday 22nd February 2014
- Feb 22, 2014
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 1032cm
Posted on Saturday 22nd February 2014 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's a lovely morning in the Niseko area, nice and calm but and mostly clear with blue skies and importantly that new delivery of 10-15cm of snow that I have just signed off on making it even lovelier. Lovely.
Perfect weather and probably conditions too for the start of the weekend. And the fine clearer weather looks like it's going to continue as well, though the downer of that (apart from the probably lack of fresh overnight deliveries) is that from early in the week it will probably be getting a bit milder than it has been with town temps. getting into positive numbers.
For now though, should be a really great day. Busy, but great. Have fun finding those untouched places!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -9C, 12 hours snowfall 30cm of crystal snow, no development of snowdrifts. Moiwa 800m: N6m/s, 30cm, -9C, moderate development of snowdrifts overnight. Annupuri 1150m: N7m/s, -11C, development of snowdrift. Peak 1308m: NNW5.9m/s, -12.3℃. Hirafu 1000m: -8℃, 20cm of fresh snow. Coastal data: Benkei cape N11m/s, Kamui cape E5m/s, 1.7m waves, 1022hPa.
Isobars are largely spacing out, mild wind with no drastic development of snowdrifts. Accirding to snowfall transition and 5am observations, the general avalanche risk is low. The surface layer of new snow is getting heavier on top of Feb 13-15th layer, caution is still required in 1100m altitude slopes with heavy load of snowdrifts. Winter mountains are always hazardous, especially in this time of the season. Opening of gates 2, 3 and 6 will be delayed in order to minimize happy-go-lucky visitors. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Riding the anti-avalanche barriers along route 66 is dangerous. Parking on the road is prohibited. Beware of sudden weather changes and falling into cracks. The snow is in good condition.
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Official snow depth numbers and lift news at time of writing:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 390cm
Base - 200cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 360cm
Base - 215cm
Annupuri:
Top - 355cm
Base - 230cm
Niseko Now 2013-2014 season |
Data as of Saturday 22nd February 2014 Total snowfall at base so far 1032cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 78 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (14th January) November 2013 snowfall 123cm reported on 9 days December 2013 snowfall 275cm reported on 22 days January 2014 snowfall 461cm reported on 29 days February 2014 snowfall 173cm 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.