Niseko Now: Thursday 26th January 2023
- Jan 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 12cm
Snowfall at base this season 606cm
Posted on Thursday 26th January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have another tidy 10+cm of fresh snow to report this morning, delivered on and off since my last report and mostly after dark. Strong winds kept me awake for a time late last night. It's better to have the wind overnight than during the day, I suppose. Hopefully the wind won't be quite as strong today, but it is still affecting a few lifts early on (Annupuri gondola and top lifts).
It remains very cold, down below -10C outside my place now.
Regular snowfall is expected across the coming week.
Conditions should be super!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -12C, 20cm snowfall, windblown snow. Moiwa 800m: -14.7C, WSW11.3m/s, significant snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -17.7C, WNW13.3m/s, significant snowdrift development. Mizuno no Sawa: -16.1C, NNW7.1m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -17.4C, SSE3.0m/s. Hanazono#3: -14.5C, NNW8.1m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW19m/s, Kamui cape WNW13m/s, 1010hPa, 3.6m waves.
Wave heights have dropped from 6m to 3m and the isobar is beginning to spread out. According to the observation at 5am, westerly wind is still blowing strong over 800m elevation. Based on the observation, tests, and snowfall transition, avalanche risk is high on ridgeline leeward slopes over 800m elevation where snowdrifts have developed rapidly. The winds will come down at 10:00am and top lifts will open, but the gates opening is yet to be decided. Please follow the patrol's instructions. Do not stimulate knolls. Do not traverse steep slopes under cornices. When traversing gullies and under the sidewalls, keep the distance and traverse one person at a time. Beware of crashing into trees. Avalanche risk remains high all day on Kozan no sawa, westridge at 1000m elevation, Annupuri Osawa cornice slopes, and East ridge. Better to be cautious even if the weather recovers. The conditions are the same in the surrounding mountains. Guides and leaders have a great responsibility. Plan your tours wisely. Tree-runs have been reset with new snow. Beware of falling, crashing into trees and choking. Have a good day.
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Ski area information for Thursday 26th January 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, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 310cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 210cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm (ignore this!)
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 185cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 180cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 165cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Thursday 26th January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 606cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 54 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (2nd and 16th January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 253cm 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.