Niseko Now: Friday 26th January 2024
- Jan 26, 2024
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 661cm
Posted on Friday 26th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Wind has been a feature of the last few days and it has been blowing the snow around too. My measurement for the day is 8cm, but there are places where there's more than that (and indeed, less than that). I feel like conditions are going to be bit difficult to read this morning.
There are some rather long lines of folks waiting for first lifts this morning. Let's hope those top lifts might get to open! Alas, at the start of the day, they are not. A few other lifts might also be operating slower than normal.
Currently it is cloudy with some blue sky and it's quite bright actually... with some very light snow falling in places. It doesn't feel like the snow will last.
(PS Don't believe the 'light rain' that Niseko Village has been reporting since yesterday on the Niseko United site! That's just silly.)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am: -5°, 5cm new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: -6.5°, NNW9.1m/s (max 23m/s @ midnight), good visibility. Mikaeri 764m: -5°, good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -8.5°, NNW4.6m/s, 40cm new snow, good visibility. Village 1000: -7.1°, N3.9m/s. Hanazono 1000m: -7.5°, wind data n/a. Hanazono 3 : -5.8°, NNE8.3m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NNE13m/s. Kamui Cape ENE5m/s, 1008hPa, wave 3.8m.
A northerly wind in a typical winter type atmospheric pressure pattern continues, the pressure gradient is decreasing and the wind and waves are dropping at sea. The wind peaked around midnight and has dropped to about 10m/s. The new snow, cornices and snowdrifts have started to stabilise, but in tests showed a large break above the 24thJan layer. Wind blown snow deposits are very heavy. High avalanche risk on leeward slopes above 800m. Most accidents occur during or immediately after a storm. Unconsolidated slabs(snowdrifts) will easily fracture from rider stimulation. Most gates are expected to be closed. Do not duck ropes. There is concern that more and more people either don't know the rules or ignore them. Once you go out the gates you are LEAVING THE SKI RESORT! - NO SKI PATROL, NO HELP!! The snow in the forest is wonderful.
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Individual ski area information for Friday 26th January 2024
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.
*** Top lifts and others are on hold at the start of the day due to wind ***
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 315cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 120cm (-10cm since yesterday)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 185cm (no change since yesterday)
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 238cm (+2cm since yesterday)
- Base: 163cm (+2cm since yesterday)
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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 Friday 26th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 661cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 57 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 62cm (8th January) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 294cm 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.