Niseko Now: Wednesday 23rd November 2016
- Nov 23, 2016
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 57cm
Posted on Wednesday 23rd November 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello from here in Hirafu and - as expected - Niseko Grand Hirafu is not going to be able to open today and opening has been delayed. The resort announced this yesterday and are saying that they will be starting up the lifts just as soon as there is enough snow to do so.
I do have some fresh snow to report this morning with 6cm of snow here at base. And it is really cold as well this morning - proper winter-like, and my thermometer early on is reading -7 degrees. It's not forecast to warm up any from that point either, so all being well we should be in for a day of cold and more snowfall.
The forecast is looking promising still over the next few days so fingers crossed.
With the official opening of the resorts almost upon us, there's a real buzz around at the moment. Many people who are here in the Niseko region to work for the season are in place and ready to go (with their riding and perhaps with their work too!), owners of businesses are also either waiting or frantically putting plans into place... and of course there are some people who are bravely here in order to enjoy some first turns of the season. Early season is always a gamble of course - wherever you decide to go - so let us hope that this season will be a good one.
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The planned dates for the four main resorts. Dates may vary depending on snowfall:
Niseko Grand Hirafu: as soon as there is enough snow until Sunday 7th May 2017
Niseko Annupuri: Saturday 26th November 2016 until Sunday 7th May 2017
Niseko Hanazono: Saturday 3rd December 2016 until Sunday 2nd April 2017
Niseko Village: Thursday 1st December 2016 until Sunday 2nd April 2017
Night skiing is planned from Saturday 10th December until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Annupuri, Grand Hirafu and Village resort areas.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Wednesday 23rd November 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 57cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 9 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 18cm (10th November) November 2016 snowfall 57cm reported on 9 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.