Niseko Now: Monday 23rd December 2019
- Dec 23, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 241cm
Posted on Monday 23rd December 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning on this eve of the big day, Christmas Eve. (Ordered your Kentucky Friend Chicken yet? It's an ancient Japanese tradition - ask your Japanese friend for more details).
Be careful if you go out though, because it is a very cold and icy early morning. Surely the coldest of the season so far. It won't remain as mad cold for the whole day, but you will still need to be wrapped up well and take care with your steps and driving as it is icy.
I'm sure there will be lots of people wanting to get out early on this morning though, as the sun is out, there is a lot of blue sky around and it is quite calm. I would expect all lifts that plan to be open to get moving as planned.
There is just a dusting of snow to report since my report yesterday, but we are still expecting more in the coming days. And I jolly well believe that Santa-san will pull through.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Mountain Base 6.00am: -10°, trace new snow, Coastal data: Benkei Cape:S2m/s. Kamui Cape E2m/s, 1018hPa, wave 0.6m. Annupuri 1000m: snowpack 75cm. Surface frost formation by radiation cooling at all elevations.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is shallow, the sea and mountains are calm with a trace new snow. Expect a significant layer in future snowpack from Dec 23rd. At 800m snow drift depth is up to 150cm, at 700m the bamboo is not buried yet and snow is unsuitable to ride. Snow above the tree line is good but it is hard going getting to it and back from it. If you go down to 600m and below it is very difficult/impossible to get through.
The groomers are in good condition this morning. Watch out for undulations in the snow surface and hidden stumps by the side of the runs. You can enjoy it if you ride carefully. Due to the lack of snow we still cant ride out of the ski areas. Please respect and follow Niseko Rules. The 23rd Niseko Avalanche Meeting will be held at Niseko Town Town Center from 6:30 p.m. on December 26. Free to participate. Have a good day today without injury.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 150cm
- Base: 60cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
Courses available:
- Family
- Sennoki
- Alpen
- Detour for beginners
- Green
- Shirakaba
- Center
- Kogen
- Boyo
- Ni-kabe
- Kokutai
- Holiday
- Rinkan (lower area)
- Jumbo
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 105cm
- Base: 53cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 95cm
- Base: 65cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 90cm
- Base: 55cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola ON HOLD
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Monday 23rd December 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 241cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 25 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (6th December) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 156cm 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.