Niseko Now: Friday 25th January 2019
- Jan 25, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 676cm
Posted on Friday 25th January 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
So yes, yesterday was rather wild. The bottom Hanazono quad lift got moving as did a few Jumbo lifts over at Annupuri, but lots of the lifts remained at a standstill as the wind blew.
Thankfully, things are considerably calmer this morning. Phew!
More snow surely fell from the skies, but that wind yesterday was blowing it about without any apparent concern for it's feelings and well being. And this morning I have just 7cm to measure - so that is what I can report. But a special mention that there will be more fluffy fresh out there this morning.
The mountain should all be open today including gates and conditions should be truly excellent. That is why there are tons of people lined up waiting for those first lifts to move.
Have a very fine day wherever you are.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain Base 6.00am: -5°, trace new snow in last 12hrs. Moiwa 800m: -7.3°, WNW8.4m/s, 15cm in the last 12 hrs, cornice and snowdrift development. Mikaeri Weather Station: -7°, complex snowdrift development. Annupuri 1120m: snowpack 185cm. Hirafu Peak: -10°. Mizuno no Sawa: no data. Kutchan Weather Station: -4.1°, snow depth 161cm. Suttsu Weather Station: -0.9°, snowpack 49cm. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NNW11m/s. Kamui Cape: N11m/s, 1014hPa, wave 2.4m.
Seas reached 8m but the storm is calming down now and wind speed around 1000m as dropped below 15m/s. From observation snowdrifts are starting to stabilise, however from tests snowdrifts are fracturing at 45cm depth, fracture surface is granular layer formed by wind direction and temperature gradient.
General avalanche risk is falling. Around 1100m cornice growth has been extreme and there is possibility of a natural collapse. Do not spend time in the valley bottom. In the event of an avalanche it shouldn’t travel far but be will be highly destructive. Snow conditions are not good in Higashi One area due to the northerly wind.
All peak gates are expected to open. Please follow the patrol's advice. Be prepared before entering the backcountry. Never traverse under cornices, this can easily trigger a surface avalanche. Snow is dense and heavy from the strong wind.
Be careful hitting trees in the forest. The wind will continue through the morning. Have a good day.
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Ski resort operation information: Friday 25th January 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 320cm
- Base: 150cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as normal this morning (King Number 2 quad rested)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 238cm
- Base: 183cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as normal this morning
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 150cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as normal this morning
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 280cm
- Base: 150cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts should be operating as normal this morning (Country Road lift rested)
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Friday 25th January 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 676cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 333cm reported on 26 days January 2019 snowfall 259cm reported on 22 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.