Niseko Now: Tuesday 24th February 2015
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 967cm
Posted on Tuesday 24th February 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Fresh snow!
I wouldn't usually get so excited around 10cm or so of snowfall that may not be quite classic Niseko quality, but with the lack of fresh over the last week it's just really great to see snow back with us... and hopefully will be the start of more to come. The folk lining up for first lifts tells me that others feel the same way.
It's snowing pretty good heavily now actually. Please continue!
The Report below mentioning 20cm of fresh over at Moiwa. :)
It's a bit colder too as you might expect this morning.
Come on snow, stay with us! If the forecast is correct it should be snowing through until tomorrow and then around Friday. Temperatures are remaining borderline mild, so fingers crossed things go the colder way. (It's the best way, easy).
For now though I imagine fresh tracks will very quickly be made this morning so get up there earlier if you want to try and get some.
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Wind played around with lifts yesterday but some got moving. The Annupuri Gondola stopped shortly after 10am but by mid morning Hirafu was open apart from the top Ace and King Number 4 lifts, with the Ace and King 3 moving at reduced speed. The Hanazono top lift also got started just before 11am.
Top lifts affected this morning again by wind, though less than yesterday. See below for details as at 8:30am.
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Resort specific news as of 8:30am - subject to change during the day
Niseko Grand Hirafu:
Top Ace Number 4 and King Number 4 lifts on hold at the start of the day due to wind.
Niseko Hanazono:
All lifts look set to be operating as normal from the start this morning.
Niseko Village:
Top Wonderland Chair will be on hold
Niseko Annupuri:
Top Jumbo Number 4 lift on hold early on due to strong wind.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -4C, 10cm of new snowfall in last 12 hrs, wet broken crystals and hail. Moiwa 800m: SW5m/s, 20cm new snowfall and snowdrifts, -6C, bad visibility. Annupuri 1000m: snowpack 300cm. Hirafu 1000m: 10cm new snow, -6C. Annupuri peak 1308m: wind SW speed not avail, -8.3℃. Cape Benkei: WNW14m/s, Cape Kamui: WSW16m/s, pressure 1005hPa, wave 1.8m.
The powder came back! Strong SW wind and snowdrifts developing slowly above 800m. Knolls and steep slopes around 800m will easily fracture at Feb 21-22 layer. The depth is expected to be less than 30cm, however still dangerous. The snow in forest is good. All gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols advice and be prepared before riding out of bounds. Always be aware on knoll and cornice slopes, ride one by one. The valley bottoms are the path of potential large scale avalanches, dont stop in them. Yesterday over 8 people entered strictly off limits area Yu no sawa. A lot of people work hard to protect your right to ride out of bounds in Niseko. Please dont disrespect them, follow the rules and help keep Niseko free.
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Official resort snow depths:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 380cm
Base - 135cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 290cm
Base - 170cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 340cm
Base - 170cm
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Tuesday 24th February 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 967cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 67 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (15th & 26th December and 11th February) November 2014 snowfall 30cm reported on 5 days December 2014 snowfall 519cm reported on 25 days January 2015 snowfall 257cm reported on 23 days February 2015 snowfall 161cm reported on 14 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.