Niseko Now: Wednesday 27th December 2017
- Dec 27, 2017
- 6 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 24cm
Snowfall at base this season 519cm
Posted on Wednesday 27th December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
The strong winds, heavy snowfall and very cold conditions have continued.
I got another 24cm of fresh snow to report, though once again I need to mention that the wind has been blowing it around big time and so look in different places and you'll see more and less. I am guessing that actual snowfall is probably considerably more. It has been rather wild, to say the least.
Though the winds are expected to be less today, they are still expected to cause some lift disruption. Official 'sauces' are this morning apparently once again having trouble and so the snow depths are not updated and I am unable to confirm lift operation status at time of writing. (Sorry!)
Be extra/very safe out there - there really is no need to push yourself at the moment.
Once this storm calms down proper and passes, conditions should be truly excellent. Snow is still expected over the next few days. For calmer and clearer conditions perhaps we can look to the weekend.
:)
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And now for something completely different.
Here’s something I prepared yesterday...
“Your snow reports suck and are way off the money. Get it right.”
Such was the ever-so-charming email – reproduced above in full - that someone sent in to SnowJapan yesterday. It was bravely sent in without a name and using an invalid email address that bounced the form. (Oh, but of course!)
Whenever these kinds of comments are sent in we often feel they are often probably done as some kind of ‘hilarious’ lark, maybe a drunken bit of fun to try and get some kind of rise – and SnowJapan are not in the habit of rising to such bait.
But SnowJapan have given me permission to make a few comments today.
So please indulge me!
Point 1: Which snow reports exactly? All of them? Do they all suck? Or just some of them? Maybe just one of them? Mine perhaps, or a different one?
Point 2: In what way do they ‘suck and are way off the money’?
Note: If you genuinely would like us to ‘get it right’, how exactly are we supposed to do that if you do not specify such things?
Point 3: And here’s a jolly good idea. If you are going to waste your time being so confrontational, why not man-up - or indeed woman-up - and put your name to your comments, rather than hide behind the cowardly anonymity of t’inter?
Actually, I think I know the answer to that one.
The internet really is such a wonderful thing. It allows us to instantly avail ourselves to all sorts of important kitten-related cuteness (though I prefer monkeys myself), endless AKB48 videos and also allows us to easily spend too much money shopping in the Christmas sales. Doh!
But it still often perplexes me how it also seems to turn some folk into really rude, ungrateful and manner-free trolls. On second thoughts, I’m pretty sure these people are exactly like that with or without the internet; the internet just brings it out of them and to the fore.
But to address the issue for relative newcomers:
If I make a mistake in these reports, I am keen to know about it. I will correct it and I will also likely apologise for it in a future report. The reports on SnowJapan are here to tell you what is happening, not what we all want to be happening or to feed you some agenda-driven message. I am certain that is the case with the other reports.
A large amount of time, effort and care is put into the reports. Every single day for 4-6 months, depending on the report. I know that when I am in the swing of things I probably spend over 30 minutes every day putting this report together. Sometimes a bit less, sometimes more than that. And for the most part I really love doing it. Hopefully that comes across in my reports.
You don’t have to love our style of reports, but if you think they are so bad and are unwilling to elaborate further than ‘they suck’, here’s a novel idea – don’t read them. Last I heard, you aren’t paying for them. And SnowJapan might be happy to save on some bandwidth.
Comments are welcome, and we will always consider genuine stuff that is sent in. Offensive comments, insults and generally bad-mannered and rude shouts will be totally ignored. Behind the scenes we might briefly shake our heads in disbelief and/or have a bit of a chuckle, but we’re not losing any sleep over it. That's because we do the best we can, stand by what we do and most importantly we absolutely know where we’re coming from.
When I make posts like this - I know, I have been known to a few times a season - I actually enjoy it. It’s a bit like discussing stuff over a few pints with good friends.
Anyway, thanks for indulging me again.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -10℃, 30cm snowfall, stormy. Moiwa800m: -12.8℃, W12.2m/s (max 29m/s), large snowdrifts developing. Annupuri1150m: -18℃, W20m/s, 50cm snowfall at base. Hirafu1000m: -15℃, light wind, 50cm snowfall. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW20m/s, Kamui capeW13m/s, 995hPa, 3.3m waves.
The wind is slowly calming down, however strong westerly wind persists in western side of the mountain above 800m. 5am observations showed that the snowdrifts are yet to stabilize, easily fractures with a slight impact. The avalanche risk is extremely high in Niseko and surrounding mountains. Potential trigger layer is 24th Dec’s layer of warm snow, or the collapsing of the snowdrift itself. 60cm thick surface slab slides are to expected in 1000m Backbowl and Osawa sidewalls.
The storm remains strong and visibility is bad. Heavily wind affected dense and deep snow blankets the area below treeline. Better stay inbounds today. Snow is abundant and deep in Hirafu and the eastern area. Beware of falling and suffocation.
Many of the winter mountain accidents occur when pushing too far during bad weather. Once the weather settles down, the snow will stabilize and the mountain will be ready to be enjoyed safely. Niseko is under a once in a decade cold spell. Be flexible with your travel plans, better not push things in this weather.
All gates are closed today. Chair lifts operation is undetermined. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions.
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Wednesday 27th December 2017
Please note snow depths not updated today - unable to check official information
Resort specific information (operations subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts except Ace Number 4 and King Number 2 are operating
** Strong winds are likely to be affecting lift operations
Official snow depth:
- Top: 270cm
- Base: 110cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts are operating
** Strong winds are likely to be affecting lift operations
Official snow depth:
- Top: 210cm
- Base: 160cm
Niseko Village
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts except Country Road Chair are operating
** Strong winds are likely to be affecting lift operations
Official snow depth:
- Top: 220cm
- Base: 170cm
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Wednesday 27th December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 519cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 35 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (21st December) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 331cm reported on 24 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.