Niseko Now: Saturday 25th March 2017
- Mar 25, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 678cm
Posted on Saturday 25th March 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Just a dusting of snow this morning; not quite 1cm at my measuring point, but I am going to be add the 1cm to the report this morning - after all, there have been other days of slight dustings and the odd mm here and there!
Hopefully there will be more fresh snowfall higher up on the mountain.
It's a fairly mild morning. It doesn't feel as cold as yesterday, and it looks like we should now expect a run of milder days and often sunny conditions.
Have a fun weekend wherever you may be.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain base : -1°, trace new snow. Moiwa 800m: -6°, W8m/s, 5cm new snow, snowdrift development. Annupuri 1000m: snowpack 230cm. Hirafu 1250m, -7°, N10m/s, snowdrift development. Coastal data: Kamui Cape: N8m/s, 1018hPa, wave 2.1m, Benkei Cape NNW9m/s.
Light winds and snow continue above 800m and snow drifts are slowly developing. There is a high risk of avalanche on the leeward side of ridge lines and knolls around 1000m elevation. The recently developed snowdrifts are collapsing easily.
The mountain is back to winter conditions and some sought after powder can be found. By 10am the snow conditions below 800m will be getting heavy. All gates are expected to be open. Listen to the patrols advice before going out of bounds.
Although recent snow drift development has been slow, with strong rider stimulation they will fracture causing an avalanche. Due to changes in wind direction and speed lately, watch for 2 distinct layers that have formed within snow drifts. Ride one by one, not in groups. Don't wait in the valley bottoms. Snow conditions are always changing. Never enter south facing strictly off limits areas. Have a good day.
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Official resort snow depths as of Saturday 25th March 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 325cm
Base - 125cm
Niseko Village
Top - 295cm
Base - 130cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 230cm
Base - 130cm
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Planned closing dates
Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
Niseko Hanazono plans to be open daily until Sunday 2nd April.
Niseko Village plans to be open daily until Sunday 2nd April (and then from 28th April until 7th May).
Niseko Annupuri plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
Night time floodlit operations have now finished for the season.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Saturday 25th March 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 678cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 83 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 160cm reported on 19 days March 2017 snowfall 75cm reported on 10 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.