Niseko Now: Thursday 26th December 2013
- Dec 26, 2013
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 343cm
Posted on Thursday 26th December 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Hirafu.
Yesterday wasn't the amazing blue sky day we got on the 24th, but a fine day all the same with good conditions to be found. It's another fairly morning here - just a light wind at the moment - and it's relatively mild, with the thermometer just about rising above 0C at the moment.
Just a cm or so of new snow to report this morning. It has been trying hard to snow ever so lightly, but not quite getting there just now. There's even hints of the sun through the clouds at times.
I was out for some nighta last night. Very quite it was too. I suspect there might have been some partying going on last night, but it left the runs all to the few people who made it out. I got the best of both worlds - the nighta and the party afterwards!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base 6am: -3C, 5cm of new snow. Moiwa 800m: -4C, 5cm of fresh and calm wind. Annupuri 1150m: -11C, W13m/s, light covering of new snow. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW8m/s, Kamui cape SW10m/s, 1m waves and 1018hPa. Annupuri peak 1308m: -7.8C, WSW4.9m/s.
Calm morning and characteristic crystal snowfall of pre-low pressure weather pattern. This layer of snow (Dec 26th) will form a notable, potentially sliding layer in the future snowpack. Beware of coming snowfall transition. All gates are scheduled to open today, please pay attention to the ski patrol’s advices when stepping out of bounds. Always use the gates and never duck ropes.
Out of bounds area is outside the resort management. Winter mountains are hazardous at all time: self-responsibility and precise reasoning is required when going out there. Carrying safety equipment is strongly recommended. Ski the fall line to minimize unnecessary stimulation to the slope, traversing across slopes under cornices is foolish and could trigger a slide, burying people underneath you. Stay away from valley bottom to avoid secondary accident. Today’s general avalanche risk is low and the snow in the trees is good. Beware of hitting trees.
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Official snow depth numbers and lift news at time of writing:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 220cm
Base - 95cm
All lifts operating apart from Ace Number 4 pair and King Number 2 quad.
Niseko Village:
Top - 140cm
Base - 100cm
All lifts operating apart from Country Road.
Annupuri:
Top - 125cm
Base - 120cm
All lifts operating apart from Family pair.
Niseko Now 2013-2014 season |
Data as of Thursday 26th December 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 343cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 26 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 35cm (14th, 15th and 24th December) November 2013 snowfall 123cm reported on 9 days December 2013 snowfall 220cm 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.