Niseko Now: Friday 23rd December 2016
- Dec 23, 2016
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 250cm
Posted on Friday 23rd December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Oh dear. It's raining.
Yesterday there was snow falling and I measured 2cm of it, but later in the afternoon it was wiped out fairly quickly as the snow turned into rain. It's just too mild and it seems to be something that all of Japan is enduring at the moment. Here in Niseko we are actually getting off relatively well by the looks of things.
It is due to be getting colder and snowing today so I'd be happy if soon after I post my report it suddenly changed.
If I see Santa on the slopes today, I'm going to jolly well tell him that we want snow and hopefully he'll get on the case in time for dinner tonight. Please do the same.
Let's see what I can get to report to you tomorrow morning...
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: +4℃, rain and thaw. Moiwa 850m: +1℃, wet snowfall and snowpack sinking. Annupuri 1000m: -1℃, E5m/s, light snowfall. Hirafu 1000m: -1℃, 15cm of wet snow. Coastal data: Kamui cape E5m/s, 993hPa, 2.0m waves.
The low-pressure system has pulled warm air from the south and passed. Little snow has fallen in the Westside of the mountain and melting in areas below 800m elevation. The snow in the out of bounds is heavy and not suitable for skiing. Sticky snow on the groomers too. Heavy wet snow slides can occur at on & off piste steep slopes. A wet & heavy slab is forming on top of Dec 21st layer and can easily slide at slopes above 1000m altitude. Those type of avalanches are very dangerous. Stay away from valleys and steep slopes.
Road conditions is also treacherous. The temperature will drop from now and a snowstorm will pick up. Roads will freeze, be careful driving.
This information is issued for the safety of all resort users.
The weather changes in the last few years seem quite unusual. All we can do is adjust to it.
Have a great Christmas weekend.
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Resort specific opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):
All four of the resort areas appear to be opening as planned at the start of the day - a few delays for higher lifts but that should clear soon.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Ace Family pair*
- Ace Number 2 Center Four*
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola*
- King Number 3 quad
- Holiday Number 1 pair*
- Swinging Monkey
Courses that are not yet open:
- Large
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts planned to be operating:
- All lifts operating
Niseko Village
Lifts planned to be operating:
- All lifts operating apart from top Wonderland Chair (and Country Road which isn't usually open anyway)
Niseko Annupuri
Lifts planned to be operating:
- All lifts operating apart from top Jumbo Number 4
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Official resort snow depths as of Friday 23rd December 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 220cm
Base - 90cm
Niseko Village
Top - 120cm
Base - 100cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 100cm
Base - 80cm
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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.
The lifts marked with a * above are the lifts that are planned to be operating for nighta.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Friday 23rd December 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 250cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 29 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 140cm 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.