Niseko Now: Saturday 23rd December 2017
- Dec 23, 2017
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 482cm
Posted on Saturday 23rd December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Santa is in town. Reports from Nozawa this morning are obviously 'fake' - perhaps my reporting friend down there has just been misled...
...and the resorts are opening up top gates for him. According to the Avalanche Reports, gates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 should be opening this morning.
Hurray!
Yesterday we enjoyed some lovely weather in the afternoon. Blue skies and sunshine. Marvellous.
I have 7cm of snow to report this morning from my base and it's mild - well, relatively mild of course, with temps currently hovering around zero. Light snow is falling here in Hirafu as I write this but I think we can expect it to ease off this morning and we may get some more sun between now and tomorrow evening.
I have just taken a quick look at the forecast. Late Sunday-early Monday onwards looks pretty good for potentially heavy snow and strong winds. Another storm looks to be on the horizon. Until now, pesky winds haven't been much of an issue this season; that may well change come early week. Perhaps Santa doesn't have any control over that kind of thing.
In the meantime, I hope you have a good Saturday.
More people piling into Niseko now as things get more lively by the day.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -1℃, 5cm of low-pressure snowfall. Moiwa800m: -1.6℃, S1.4m/s, heavy snowfall 15cm without snowdrifts development. Annupuri1000m: -2℃, light NW breeze, 15cm snowfall. Hirafu1200m: -3℃, light breeze, 10cm snowfall and bad visibility. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW9m/s, Kamui cape SSW2m/s, 1014hPa, 0.6m waves.
The isobars are spread out, however a low-pressure area is hovering above Niseko, generating 10-15cm of humid snow and falling. The snowdrifts that formed yesterday are stabilizing with time and the avalanche hazard is lowering. The current snowfall is likely to slide in 40°steep slopes. Danger of falling cornice on the peak ridge is lowering. Peak chairs are scheduled to run from the morning.
Gates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 are also scheduled to open today. Looking at the snowfall transition and observations, the avalanche risk under treeline is relatively low. Avoid cornices and knolls and ride one by one. If stopping halfway on the slope, choose a spot away from avalanche path.
The Niseko Rules have been established in order to protect all resort users’ safety and freedom to ride in the out of bounds area. Please respect it for your own sake. Do not duck ropes.
Collapsing cornices sometimes trigger an avalanche. Extra caution is required in Higashi-One. Visibility is bad, be vigilant. Precaution is key to avoid accidents. Have a nice weekend.
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Saturday 23rd December 2017
What's planned to be open today in Niseko (subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts operating:
- Hirafu Gondola (* nighta)
- Ace Number 1 pair lift
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad lift (* nighta)
- Ace Number 3 pair lift
- Ace Family quad lift (* nighta)
- Holiday Number 1 pair lift (* nighta)
- Swinging Monkey
- King Number 1 pair lift
- King Number 3 quad lift
- King Number 4
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts operating:
- All lifts operating
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts operating:
- All lifts operating
Niseko Village
Lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Banzai Chair
- Community Chair (* nighta)
- Upper Village Gondola (* nighta)
- Village Express (* nighta)
- Wonderland Chair
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Official resort snow depths on Saturday 23rd December 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 295cm
Base - 145cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Top - 210cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Village
Top - 220cm
Base - 170cm
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Floodlit 'nighta' skiing:
Night skiing is planned for every evening at the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas. There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO area. Ski lifts that are scheduled to be operating for nighta are noted above.
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Saturday 23rd December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 482cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 33 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (21st December) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 294cm reported on 22 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.