Niseko Now: Thursday 23rd February 2023
- Feb 23, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 8, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 927cm
Posted on Thursday 23rd February 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
This morning I have a few mm over 20cm of snow to report, which is a very nice thing to be able to report on this national holiday (Emperor's Birthday). Expect more at higher elevations.
It is a bit warmer this morning actually. Some forecast tell us that there is a chance of some spots of rain later on in lower areas and town (boooo), but hopefully it will be snow at higher elevations (hurray). Whichever, neither seem set to be heavy. Tomorrow might also be on the milder side with colder temps due for Saturday.
For the moment, it is snowing.
Niseko Annupuri have started to seemingly not update their new snowfall numbers again, so I'm on the verge of taking that out of the report like I did with Niseko Village. It's kind of frustrating, for sure. I am not arguing over specific numbers. (I know very well what a minefield that is!) It's the 'not updating' thing.
But beyond that minor frustration: fresh snow, yey!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -4C, 20cm snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -4.9C, SSW0.9m/s, 25cm snowfall, snowdrifts developing. Annupuri 1100m: -7.1C, W6.0m/s, 30cm snowfall, snowdrift developing. Mizuno no Sawa: -4.9C, W2.9m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -7.1C, S1.4m/s. Hanazono#3: -4.4C, ESE1.9m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape SSE4m/s, Kamui cape SW9m/s, 1018hPa, 1.5m waves.
Wind has come down in the morning, 25cm new snow slopes at 800m elevation, tree runs are reset. Westerly wind and snow continued throughout the night mainly around 22:00, 70cm snowdrift development in the last 12 hours on the slopes at 800m elevation. From the observation and weather data, the avalanche risk on the slopes under the 1000m elevation is low. 50cm snowdrift development on the slopes at 1200m elevation in the Kozan no Sawa sidewalls due to the storm during the night, though the avalanche risk is starting to stabilize, still remains high in the morning. Wind and snow will temporarily intensify as the cold front passes at 10am. The avalanche risk increases as the slab formation develops in the strong wind. Do not stay in the gully when the storm begins. Avalanche is a natural phenomenon but it becomes an accident when a person gets caught in it. Most accidents occur during the storm. NIDE’s observation ends today. The purpose of these tests is to study the structural vulnerability of snowdrifts and its changes. We believe that the scientific clarification of this phenomenon will be useful in preventing future accidents. We are grateful to the many people who have proved with their own experience that avalanches do not occur on slopes with stable snowdrifts, even if they jump off the cornices or knolls. All the gates will be open. Have a good day.
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Ski area information for Thursday 23rd February 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 17cm
- Base: 17cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 400cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 175cm (-5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Ace Number 4 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 275cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm (really?) (again, again, sorry)
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 190cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 245cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 220cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Thursday 23rd February 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 927cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 80 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th & 28th January, 6th February) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm reported on 27 days February 2023 snowfall 242cm reported on 21 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.