Niseko Now: Tuesday 26th December 2023
- Dec 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 18cm
Snowfall at base this season 341cm
Posted on Tuesday 26th December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
A bit of an early report this morning, meaning I am a bit too early for some official information.
We enjoyed some fine weather yesterday, but this morning I bring news of more fresh snow overnight - I have just measured 18cm of it, bringing the total this month to 221cm.
I wonder how much I will be able to record this December? Just for fun, here's the numbers (my observed snowfall at base) from the last few years for the month of December:
December snowfall (observed)
2023-2024 season: 221cm (*up until 26th December 2023)
2022-2023 season: 336cm
2021-2022 season: 307cm
2020-2021 season: 348cm
2019-2020 season: 207cm
2018-2019 season: 333cm
2017-2018 season: 406cm
You can find that data, along with much more, on the Snowfall analysis tab of this report. It's really very interesting. Especially if you are a bit nerdy, like me. ;)
Anyway, it should be a fine day.
------------------
Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -4C, light wind, 20cm snowfall in 12h. Moiwa Mikaeri 762m: -6C, low pressure snowfall 25cm, snowing. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -7.8C, ESE1.8m/s. Hanazono#3: -5.5C, NNE2.2m/s (max 12m/s), 30cm snowfall. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW18m/s, Kamui cape WSW14m/s, 1018hPa, 1.3m waves.
The wind is strong on the sea as a low pressure approaches. Still relatively calm on the mountains as of 7am. 15-30cm low-pressure system snowfall throughout the range. Sluff slides are to be expected in open 30+° slopes even without the presence of weak layers when this type of snowfall reaches 50cm. These slides don’t run that fast (around 60kn/h) but are heavy. If you get caught in one, you may be able to escape by holding onto a tree. Notable slabs will start to form as the wind picks up, and would become the cause of surface slab avalanches (100+km/h) in gullies above 800m elevation. These are impossible to escape from. Keep an eye out on the future weather transition. Out of bounds skiing from the resort is not permitted yet. Don’t cross the ropes behind the back of ski patrols. Niseko respects your freedom to ski, but also cares about your safety. Please understand and abide by the Niseko Rules. Beware of sudden weather changes. Have you switched your beacon on? Have a great day.
------------------
Individual ski area information for Tuesday 26th December 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 85cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 7:00pm)
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
------------------
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (until 7:00pm)
------------------
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 100cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 7:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
------------------
Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 150cm
- Base: 96cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Village Express (until 7:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
- Morino Chair
------------------
Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 pair
- Quad
------------------
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Tuesday 26th December 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 341cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 30 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (18th December) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 221cm reported on 19 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.