Niseko Now: Friday 27th December 2019
- Dec 27, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 5cm
Snowfall at base this season 274cm
Posted on Friday 27th December 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello and good morning from Hirafu.
This morning I have another 5cm of fresh snowfall to report to you from late afternoon yesterday.
This morning it is a cloudy/overcast start to the day, looks like it is snowing higher up.
And we can expect the chance of light snow any time today and tomorrow with an appropriately sunny day likely on Sunday.
Beyond that, there's that heavy snowfall around Tuesday as we head into New Year.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -4℃, moderate wind and 10cm snowfall. Moiwa800m: -8.2℃, SW7.19m/s, snowdrifts developments. Hirafu1000m: -10.5℃. Hanazono 3 (Alt. 720m): -8.2℃, NNW3.5m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NE7m/s, Kamui cape E2m/s, 1008hPa, 0.7m waves.
The Sea of Japan condition is still calm, however a relatively strong westerly wind/snow is blowing in the Niseko mountain range above 800m elevation due to a passing low pressure system. Snowfall amount is small, but cornices and snowdrifts have developed and are unstable. The avalanche risk in leeward knolls and cornice slopes above 1000m is high.
Most avalanche related accidents occur in leeward slopes with heavy snowdrift deposit during storms. Better not stimulate those slopes during foul weather.
The groomers condition is good, but visibility is poor. Snowpack is still shallow and bushes are yet to be buried under 700m. Better stay inbounds. Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended.
The gates are yet to open. Not much we can do but to wait for more snow.
Road conditions are treacherous today, drive safely and have a great day.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 180cm
- Base: 80cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad (until 8:30pm)
- Ace Number 2 Center quad (until 8:20pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 8:10pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 8:30pm)
- King Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
All courses now open EXCEPT the following:
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Konayuki
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 120cm
- Base: 75cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 100cm
- Base: 70cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 8:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 100cm
- Base: 70cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 8:00pm)
- Village Express (until 8:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 8:00pm)
- Morino Chair
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Friday 27th December 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 274cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 29 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (6th December) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 189cm 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.