Niseko Now: Wednesday 22nd February 2017
- Feb 22, 2017
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 549cm
Posted on Wednesday 22nd February 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Some blue skies and sun at times through the day yesterday and just slightly over 1cm of fresh snow on ground by base to report to you all this morning. I see the Avalanche Report is reporting 10-15cm in places higher up.
It was very cold overnight and is keeping cold at the moment which is all important. And after just saying that, it does seem to be the case that tomorrow will be milder during the daytime but with snow starting to fall once again later on. And then fingers crossed we'll see some consistent snow through Friday and over the weekend.
There's quite a lot of blue sky now and the sun is out. It should be a lovely morning. Things seem calm this morning and all lifts will be opening so I expect a rush to get up top.
That's about it really for today I think.
Until tomorrow!
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -9℃, light snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -8.6℃m, W2.9m/s (20.2m/s at 2pm and 16.2m/s at 6pm yesterday), 10cm snowfall. Annupuri 1150m: -13℃, W13m/s, 15cm snowfall. Hirafu 1250m: -9℃, light breeze and light snowfall. Kamui cape lighthouse: SW9m/s, 1022hPa, 2.0m waves.
The isobars are spreading out and the wind is calming down, The wind’s peak reached 20.2m/s at 2:20pm yesterday at 800m elevation in the west-side of the mountain, stagnating below 12m/s after 6pm. The snowdrifts that developed under this storm is consolidating and no outstanding instability has been observed during this morning’s pressure test. The general avalanche risk is lowering, however slides are still to be expected in leeward knolls and cornice slopes with large snowdrift development around 1100m elevation. Extended stimulation could trigger an avalanche any time. Expected sliding layer is Feb 17th hoar layer. Gate 1 and 4 will be kept closed during the morning, but 2, 3, 5 and 8 are expected to open. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Do not duck ropes to enter O-sawa, Fujiwara-no-sawa, or any other area that are restricted. Today’s snow is fantastic.
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Official resort snow depths as of Wednesday 22nd February 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 315cm
Base - 120cm
Niseko Village
Top - 300cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 315cm
Base - 140cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Wednesday 22nd February 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 549cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 68 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 106cm reported on 14 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.