Niseko Now: Wednesday 23rd February 2022
- Feb 23, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 1009cm
Posted on Wednesday 23rd February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have 14cm of fresh snow to report this morning. It is still snowing but less windy - at base anyway - and it does feel like we have passed through the major part of this storm. Still, summit lifts might struggle today and indeed they are not going to be moving at the start of the day.
It is a national holiday today (Happy Birthday, Emperor) and so there will be more people around than on a normal Wednesday. The Jumbo Number 3 lift is open today, but the Holiday lift at Hirafu seems to be taking a holiday.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -6℃, calm, 20cm snowfall in the last 12hrs. Moiwa800m: -8.4℃, WNW6.5m/s, 40cm snowfall, snowdrift development 100cm. Annupuri1150m: -11.4℃, WNW6.0m/s, 50cm snowfall, cornice and snowdrift development, good visibility. Hirafu1000m: -11.1℃, WNW7.9m/s, heavy snowfall, takes some time grooming, good visibility. Coastal data Benkei cape: NNW10m/s, Kamui cape: N6m/s, 1013hPa, 1.0m waves.
Although the wind is still blowing higher elevation, the storm has calmed down. Due to the heavy storm in the last 48hrs, wind affected snowdrifts have accumulated at all levels of elevation. 150cm thick, 300cm long snowdrift development at some part of leeward slopes at 800m elevation. Difficult grooming with hard crushed crystal snow. It will take some time to restore the course and operate the top lift. The avalanche risk has started to decrease based on observation and weather data, however the gates above 1000m elevation will be closed to prevent accidents. Please follow patrols instructions. Avalanche accidents are most likely to occur during and right after the storm. Even though the storm has stopped, it takes some time to stabilize snowdrifts created by 25m/s strong wind and snow. Do not stimulate cornices and knolls and open slopes over 30 degrees. There is a very high risk of surface slab avalanches that sweeps the entire valley with 100km/h speed. Stay away from the gully bottom and bottom of steep slopes. Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 23rd February 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 430cm (+10cm)
- Base: 220cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (+10cm)
- Base: 270cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 340cm (+20cm)
- Base: 230cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 230cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Wednesday 23rd February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 1009cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 79 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December and 22nd February) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 292cm reported on 20 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.