Niseko Now: Sunday 25th December 2016
- Dec 25, 2016
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 264cm
Posted on Sunday 25th December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko and a very Merry Christmas to you all.
It was snowing lightly earlier on but that has eased off now and there's more and more blue sky appearing and the sun is currently shining through my window. It is probably going to be a fine day.
And look what Santa brought. Just a few cm of fresh on the ground but perhaps more importantly from today the top King Number 4 lift at Niseko Grand Hirafu and the top Jumbo Number 4 lift at Niseko Annupuri debut for the season... and it is now possible to slide between each of the resorts at the top. Yey! Though, the resorts themselves are making a point of warning that conditions aren't great (not sure exactly what they mean by that). It looks like the top lift at Niseko Village isn't budging for the moment.
Wherever you are in the world, have a fine day.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -5℃, 2cm snowfall and no snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -11℃, W12m/s, light dust. Moiwa 800m: -8℃, W8m/s, 4cm snowfall and no snowdrifts. Coastal data: Benkei cape WNW12m/s, Kamui cape W12m/s, 1024hPa, 1.0m waves.
Observations and impact test showed that the Dec 19th, 21st, 23rd and 24th layers are stable. Avalanche risk is generally low, except in 40+°steep slopes under chairlifts, cliffbands and course-side banks. The snowpack is still insufficient and the out of bounds areas are closed. Yesterday’s tracks aren’t covered.
Beware of recklessly speeding Santa-Claus at the resort!
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Resort specific opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):
The mountain is nearly (but not yet quite) fully open with top lifts. All resort areas appear to be opening as planned at the start of the day.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
The top King Number 4 lift is now operating.
The top Ace Number 4 lift remains closed.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
All lifts generally open.
Niseko Village
The top Wonderland lift is not yet operating.
Otherwise open as normal (the Country Road lift is not usually open).
Niseko Annupuri
All lifts now operating and open as normal.
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Official resort snow depths as of Sunday 25th December 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 230cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Village
Top - 130cm
Base - 100cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 105cm
Base - 80cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Sunday 25th December 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 264cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 31 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 154cm reported on 17 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.