Niseko Now: Monday 27th December 2021
- Dec 27, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 343cm
Posted on Monday 27th December 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
We had to put up with some pesky wind yesterday messing about with lift operations. Hopefully that will not be an issue today, and all lifts (that are scheduled to be open) look set to start the day.
This morning I have another 14cm of fresh snowfall to report to you from base. My preferred daily fresh snowfall number is 20cm and above, but I'm just perhaps a little bit greedy... and when Niseko is on a roll consistency is one of the great features of this place. I'm sure there is probably that much higher up on the mountain.
Anyway it is light snow this morning. Visibility is rather limited in places but variable. (Away from the mountain there is even a bit of blue sky though I doubt we'll get any of that here).
As I have been saying these last few days, the forecast has consistent snowfall lined up into 2022. With todays snowfall I have measured 343cm this season so far. That's already about the same as the end of December last year, so looks like we are going to beat last year handily. Up to that point anyway.
The general news of the world might well be rubbish, tiring and sigh-inducing, but at least we have our snow to bring smiles to faces! Hopefully for those of you reading from afar, just thinking about it might help too.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -9℃, 10cm snowfall, calm. Moiwa800m: -13℃, 20cm new snow, snowdrifts developing slowly. Annupuri1100m: -13℃, N10m/s, 20cm new snow with snowdrift development in various places. Coastal data Benkei cape: N10m/s, Kamui cape WSW11m/s, 1010hPa, 1.8m waves.
The wind has stayed strong in high elevation with the continuing wintry pressure distribution. Cornices and snowdrifts have slowly developed above 1000m and the avalanche risk is high around the Backbowl sidewalls (Kozan no Sawa), Anupuri bowl (O-sawa), Mikaeri-sawa and Higashi-One cornice slopes. Avoid dropping into suspicious slopes simultaneously and stay away from the bottom of the gullies and/or steep slopes. Many of the past accidents occurred when leeward, wind-affected snowdrift slabs that grew drastically during 20+m/s snowstorms collapsed and triggered a slide. The snow condition changes day by day. It might be safe today, but could completely change tomorrow. Always be vigilant of the hazards that may be present.
Anemometers are being installed throughout the mountain and the data will eventually be available to see on a separate website. Peak gates will need some more time to open. Please respect the Niseko Rules. Beware of sudden weather changes and frostbites. Have a nice day.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 27th December 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 245cm (+10cm)
- Base: 135cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
All courses open apart from the following:
- Large
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 190cm (+5cm)
- Base: 135cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 17cm
Planned lift operations:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 180cm (no change)
- Base: 120cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
Planned open courses:
- Utopia
- Silver
- S-Ji
- Shirakaba
- Paradise
- Family
- Junior
- Dynamic
- Challenge
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 180cm (+40cm)
- Base: 130cm (+20cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Monday 27th December 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 343cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 25 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 258cm 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.