Niseko Now: Tuesday 27th February 2024
- Feb 27, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 809cm
Posted on Tuesday 27th February 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
It is an overcast start to the day. Quite windy and not particularly cold.
Ski areas are reporting up to 5cm of fresh snow and the Avalanche Report mentioned 10cm (wind affected), but I can only report 1cm to you this morning.
Wind is a factor again this morning and at the start of the day all but the base lift at Annupuri and all summit lifts are closed. Niseko Village gondola too.
The next delivery of new cm of snow looks due to be around Friday and Saturday, which would be a good way to start March. Gosh, can you believe it's almost March?!
(That Niseko Village video webcam is scary to watch when it's windy... with all the wobbling going on, it looks like footage from a very strong earthquake).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -5℃, 10cm wind affected snowfall in 12h. Moiwa 800m: -13.2℃, SSW3.5m/s, snowdrifts developing. Mikaeri 764m: No data. Annupuri 1100m: -9.1℃, NNE7.7m/s. Village 1000m: -7.9℃, N11.9m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -8.7℃, WSW12m/s. Hanazono 800m: -6.7℃, N4.9m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape ENE7m/s, Kamui cape NE5m/s, 1022hPa, 2.2m waves.
Looking at the weather transition and observations data, the snowdrifts are relatively stable below 900m elevation. The avalanche risk is low below treeline except in knolls and steep 40° slopes. Snowdrifts have accumulated in SW aspects due to last night’s strong (25+m/s) NE wind and they remain very unstable above 1200m elevation. 40-50cm thick surface slab avalanches are to be expected in those areas. This snowfall is due to the low pressure system in the east. It does not consolidate quickly and can let go easily. The avalanche risk in slopes above 1200m will remain high throughout the day. Better stay away from the large bowls today. The slopes under 800m elevation is, although shallow, mostly reset with new snow. Gates opening is yet to be decided, please follow the ski patrol’s decision. Avalanches are natural phenomena and are only a problem when a human being is caught in it. Please refrain from accessing the Anbetsu area from Gate 6. Many cases of beginners following these tracks and getting lost has been happening recently. We appreciate your understanding. Is your beacon switched on? This report is the official information of the Niseko Rules and is released every morning.
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Individual ski area information for Tuesday 27th February 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.
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: 300cm (-15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 90cm (-20cm since yesterday)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (-2cm since yesterday)
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 220cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 220cm (-24cm since yesterday)
- Base: 126cm (-7cm 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 Tuesday 27th February 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 809cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 79 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 298cm reported on 24 days February 2024 snowfall 144cm reported on 20 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.