Niseko Now: Thursday 23rd March 2017
- Mar 23, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 676cm
Posted on Thursday 23rd March 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have 2cm more fresh snow to report since my last report here near Hirafu base.
There's still a fair bit of cloud around at the moment, but lots of blue sky too and the sun is shining through my windows.
It feels like it should be a fine day, though there's still the chance of snowfall there on the forecast through until tomorrow.
I need to get myself over to Sapporo today and so the report is going up before resorts open, but I would imagine them opening as planned come 8:30am.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain base : -2°, 5cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -5.6°, W10m/s, 40cm snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -9°, W15m/s, 50cm snowdrift development, snowpack 230cm. Hirafu 1250m, -7°, NW10m/s, snowdrift development. Coastal data: Kamui Cape: NNE7m/s, 1011hPa, wave 2.0m, Benkei Cape NNW11m/s.
The small low pressure system is still hanging around with strong winds at higher elevations and snow fall mixed with graupel. Above 800m elevation wind is over 10m/s and snow drift growth on leeward slopes and knolls has been up to 50cm. From observation, avalanche conditions are unstable. All gates are expected to be open dependent on lift operations.
The mountain has returned to winter conditions. Kozen no sawa sidewall, Osawa cornice face around 1000m and Higashi One cornice slope, the avalanche risk is high due to snowdrift growth over the last day. Avoid riding these areas. In south facing strictly off limits areas surface slab avalanches will easily occur, fracturing on Mar 21 layer. Never enter these areas.
Below 800m the snow in the trees is reset, but you are still hitting the bottom. Be careful loosing control and hitting obstacles. Pay attention to holes and cracks covered with new snow. This information is issued to prevent accidents out of bounds. Have a safe day. .
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Official resort snow depths as of Thursday 23rd March 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 330cm
Base - 125cm
Niseko Village
Top - 295cm
Base - 130cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 295cm
Base - 130cm
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Planned closing dates
Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
Niseko Hanazono plans to be open daily until Sunday 2nd April.
Niseko Village plans to be open daily until Sunday 2nd April (and then from 28th April until 7th May).
Niseko Annupuri plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
Night time floodlit operations have now finished for the season.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Thursday 23rd March 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 676cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 81 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 160cm reported on 19 days March 2017 snowfall 73cm reported on 8 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.