Niseko Now: Saturday 27th February 2021
- Feb 27, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 21cm
Snowfall at base this season 1122cm
Posted on Saturday 27th February 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Earlier clouds have been moving on and there's blue sky opening up above us as I put this report together.
With a decent amount of fresh snow on the ground to boot. I very much approve of this way to end February! :)
...Ah! Unfortunately the top lifts are one by one being noted as being on hold as we approach 8:30am, I'm afraid. Doh! Status of the Village lift unconfirmed as I post the report. Perhaps they might be able to get going - if and when they do open gates are expected to be available today.
Sunshine is forecast tomorrow when temperatures might get a bit milder, but hopefully not by too much.
And then we should be starting the month of March with some fresh snow to celebrate. (Can you celeblate?)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
6:25am Benkei cape: NNE9m/s, Kamui cape NE2m/s, 1028hPa, 2.0m waves. Hanazono 1000m: -10.5℃, NNE10.8m/s. Hanazono 720m: -9.7℃, N5m/s. Moiwa800m: -9.7℃, NNW6.0m/s. Annupuri1000m: -12.6℃, WSW ?m/s. Yu no sawa 1100m: -12.0℃, N4.2m/s. Mizuno no Sawa top: -11.1℃, NNE2.7m/s. Kutchan town: -6.7℃, ENE0.9m/s, 17cm snowfall in 24h, 207cm snow depth. Moiwa base: -7℃, 30cm snowfall in 24h, calm and good visibility.
The wind picked up early in the morning and heavy snowfall continued until the morning. The newly formed snowdrifts under 800m elevation aren’t stable yet and can fracture with riding impact. The avalanche risk is high in cornices and snowdrift slopes in high elevation areas throughout the morning. All gates are scheduled to open, but will be subject to chairlift operations. Please wait for the ski patrol’s instructions. Better not stimulate slopes with strong wind patterns. Soft slabs may be fun to ski but are prone to break and slide today. 45cm thick surface slab avalanches are likely to occur. The snow condition changes every day. A slope that was good last week may not be safe to ski today. Hazardous conditions are present in surrounding mountains too. Have you worn your helmet and switched your beacon on? Airbags are useless if activated too late. The sun has come out now. Have a great day.
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Planned ski area operations: Saturday 27th February 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning from official sources.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 30cm
- Base: 30cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 490cm (+20cm)
- Base: 255cm (+15cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 7 lifts today - Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Pair 1, King Quad 3, King 4, Swinging Monkey
- Night skiing: Ace Center Four quad (every day) and Ace Family quad (Saturdays only at the moment)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 22cm
- Base: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 340cm (+15cm)
- Base: 250cm (+17cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 3 lifts today - Hanazono 1, 2 and 3
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono
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Niseko Annupuri
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 310cm (+10cm)
- Base: 210cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 6 lifts today - all should be moving
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing
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Niseko Village
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (+20cm)
- Base: 230cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 4 lifts today - Niseko Gondola, Community, Banzai, Wonderland
- Community Chair lift operates for night skiing
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Saturday 27th February 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 1122cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 82 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 48cm (17th February) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 387cm reported on 27 days February 2021 snowfall 325cm 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.