Niseko Now: Monday 27th January 2014
- Jan 27, 2014
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 799cm
Posted on Monday 27th January 2014 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Lots of snow to report this morning from the snowy and windy day that we had here yesterday. There was 15cm outside my place this morning though as you can see on the Avalanche Report below they are saying 25-30cm. Definitely more than the 15cm that I have fell anyway. Which of course means that this morning there should be some very agreeable conditions to be found out there.
Cloudy with light snow falling at the moment and just a light wind. Even some signs of the sun trying to peep through cloud in some places though the forecast is for cloud and sometime snow showers.
Forecast for the week ahead is looking good at the moment with regular snow now lined up to the weekend. Might get a bit warmer around Thursday so need to keep an eye on that.
It is of course a weekend but as I mentioned it is a busy period for Niseko with people celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year arriving in numbers.
Have fun everyone.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -10C, 25cm new snow in the last 12hrs, snow drift development. Moiwa 800m: -13C, wind N10m/s, 30cm new snow, snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -11C, wind W10m/s, major snowdrift development. Hirafu 1000m: no data. Annupuri peak 1308m: -17.3C, wind NNW12.1m/s, wind predicted to be WSW18m/s at noon. Cape Benkei: N9m/s, Cape Kamui: N8m/s, wave 2.4m, pressure 1020hPa.
As low pressure system passed driving wind and snow from the North cause rapid snowdrift development. Wind is dropping at 1000m elevation, however from snowfall observation and data avalanche risk remains High. Gates 2,3,4 will be closed, others yet to be decided. Please respect the Patrols decisions. Potential fracture layer is expected to be Jan 25-26 layer and scale approx 80cm. Steep temperature gradient and pre-low pressure snowfall combine to make the snowdrifts unstable and easily collapse. Beware loose snow avalanche , avoid open steep slopes, leeward cornice slopes, knolls. It is dangerous to stop at the bottom or in gullies to take pictures from below. Avalanches always come from above. Snow in the trees is wind effected, but still good. Have a safe day. Dont duck Ropes.
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Official snow depth numbers and lift news at time of writing:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 375cm
Base - 180cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 330cm
Base - 220cm
Annupuri:
Top - 280cm
Base - 200cm
Niseko Now 2013-2014 season |
Data as of Monday 27th January 2014 Total snowfall at base so far 799cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (14th January) November 2013 snowfall 123cm reported on 9 days December 2013 snowfall 275cm reported on 22 days January 2014 snowfall 401cm reported on 25 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.