Niseko Now: Saturday 25th December 2021
- Dec 25, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 304cm
Posted on Saturday 25th December 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning everyone. This is Santa, I thought I'd take over the report today.
The normal reporter kindly left me some toast to enjoy early on this morning. It was jolly good too. Makes a change from all the fried chicken. Anyway, you gnarly dude types want to know about snow, right? Well, I brought some top quality fresh snow for you all, and I promise there will be more right of that through until the end of the year. Only the best for, (what's this place called), Niseko! Had to check, I'm sure this place used to be busier.
OK so my duties for the day are over now I think, so I'm off out to slide on the snow. It should be totally excellent conditions today, I am told.
See you next year.
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Ski area news:
Holiday Number 1 pair and Miharashi courses now open at Hirafu; Jumbo Number 3 pair at Annupuri now also moving. (Hanazono data not updated for today at time of report).
Mad numbers news:
Yes, today Hirafu are reporting 15cm of fresh snowfall and yes, their official snow depth numbers decreased by 10cm. These things happen. :)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -8℃, 10cm snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: -10℃, 15cm new snow, light winds. Annupuri 1000m: -11℃, 15cm new snow, light winds. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW12m/s, Kamui cape: WSW11m/s, 1010 hPa, 1.1m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is shallow and the Niseko mountains are calm. There is no significant snowdrift development and the general avalanche risk is low. Due to a slow start followed by heavy snowfall this winter, preparation on the upper lifts and slopes above 1000m has been delayed. Expect a bit more time before the peak gates are able to be opened. However Moiwa Gate 6 @ 800m was opened yesterday. Snow is deep off the groomers, make sure you're packing snowshoes or skins if you get out there. If you get stuck in a creek without them you might not be able to make it back at all. The snow is good, don't be greedy, take an early traverse if needed.
Niseko Rules are for riding off course at the resorts, not for backcountry. People at all skill levels and experiences visit Niseko and the rules are in place for everyone's safety. If one person ducks ropes, someone always follows tracks, a prime recipe for an accident. Don't duck ropes when the gates are closed. The wind is expected to pick up this afternoon. Frostbite! Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Saturday 25th December 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 235cm (-10cm)
- Base: 125cm (-10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
All courses open apart from the following:
- Large
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm (-)
- Base: 140cm (-)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: ?cm
- Base: ?cm
Planned lift operations:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 170cm (+20cm)
- Base: 110cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
Planned open courses:
- Utopia
- Silver
- Shirakaba
- Junior
- Paradise
- Family
- Dynamic
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (+10cm)
- Base: 110cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Saturday 25th December 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 304cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 23 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 219cm 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.