Niseko Now: Friday 25th December 2015
- Dec 25, 2015
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 188cm
Posted on Friday 25th December 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko and ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!
Santa started his deliveries of snow last night with 7cm of it outside my place here at base this morning. He has promised much more.
It doesn't feel particularly cold this morning and the snow that has fallen isn't the lightest for sure, but later on today the temperatures are expected to drop further and it should be pretty cold tonight.
Most importantly, snow clouds are due to be over the region right into early next week and hopefully bring us lots of lovely fluffy snow. Cold temperatures into next week too so come prepared for the conditions.
That old friend of Niseko - 'Wind' - may well play a part this weekend as well with blizzard like conditions possible. We're ok for this morning though so a good time to go out and enjoy the modest new layer early on.
Snow conditions should be quickly improving by the day now if the forecast is right...
Have a fun day.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -1℃, flurries of wet crystal snow, 5cm in 12 hours, no development of snowdrifts. -3℃ and 90cm snowpack at Moiwa peak. Light snow and wind is continuing and snowdrifts are moderately developing. Coastal data: Benkei cape wind NNW11m/s, Kamui cape wind WNW6m/s, pressure 1006hPa, waves 0.6m.
A passing small low-pressure system made the wind shift westerly and brought some, relatively wet, but good snow. The groomers conditions is good in the morning, however sunlight is weak and visibility is poor. Beware of hitting obstacles.
The general avalanche risk is low except for steep 40+ grade slopes. Carefully follow the coming snowfall transition as the hazards may rise quickly.
Avalanche occurrence in Niseko is closely related to the rapidly growing snowdrifts that develop during storms.
Do not duck ropes to seek fresh tracks, it is against the Niseko Rules and all resort users are expected to respect them.
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Planned resort operations (subject to change due to weather conditions during the day)
The lifts market with an asterix (*) below are planned to be open for night skiing
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts planned to be running:
- Ace Family pair*
- Ace Number 2 Quad Center Four* (for transport)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola*
- King Number 3 triple
- Holiday Number 1 pair*
- Swinging Monkey
Courses planned to be open:
- Family
- Beginners access
- Center
- Shirakaba
- Green
- Kokutai
- Ni-kabe
- Alpen
- Sennoki
- Kogen
- Boyo
- Rinkan
- Jumbo
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts planned to be running:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
Courses planned to be open:
- Connecting
- Parallel
- Silver Dream
- Stairway to Heaven
- Setsuzoku course
- Crystal Garden
- Yotei Sunset (ungroomed)
Niseko Village
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Community Chair*
- Banzai Chair*
- Morino Chair
Niseko Annupuri
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 1 quad*
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
Courses planned to be open:
- Utopia
- Shirakaba
- Paradise
- Junior
- Family
- Dynamic
- Silver
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Official resort snow depths as of Friday 25th December 2015:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 190cm
Base - 55cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 85cm
Base - 60cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 80cm
Base - 50cm
Niseko Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Friday 25th December 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 188cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 15 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 20cm (30th November) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 127cm reported on 11 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.