Niseko Now: Wednesday 27th January 2021
- Jan 27, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 769cm
Posted on Wednesday 27th January 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It feels milder once again this morning. There is some very light snow falling at the moment. It's just a dusting+ really and there does seem to be a thin layer of snow on the mountain with 3-5cm being reported by the ski areas. That's certainly not enough to cover what we had yesterday, of course, but I'd say good for some thigh workouts.
There is a moderate south westerly wind this morning and indeed at the start of the morning the top lifts at Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Annupuri are on hold. As of 8:30am the top lift at Village is planning to open, as are all three Hanazono lifts. That may well change, of course.
I think we will all be good and ready for a return to consistent snowfall and that still looks likely to be starting from tomorrow night. So we should be ending the month with new layers of fresh snow. It might get stormy, particularly around Friday.
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I didn't pick up on this comment in the Avalanche Report yesterday:
"Yesterday members of the 2030 Sapporo Olympic Bid Alpine Events Team were on the mountain to investigate possible course routes. To minimise any environmental impact of the events, plans are to use existing runs as much as possible."
Interesting to see that.
So perhaps they're not going to re-construct the Sapporo Olympic downhill courses on Mt Eniwa then? ;)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data 6:25am. Cape Benkei:S9m/s. Cape Kamui: light winds, 1005hPa, wave 0.6m. Hanazono 1000m: -4.8℃, S12.8m/s. Hanazono 720:-2.2℃, SSW5.0m/s. Moiwa 800m: -2.1℃, SSE4.6m/s. Annupuri 1100m: -4.4℃, SSE5.7m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: SSW6.0m/s. Mizuno no Sawa Top: -3.3℃, SSE7.0m/s. Kutchan Town:+1.5℃, ESE5.4, snow depth 138cm, 1006.8hPa. Moiwa base: -1, 10cm wet new snow, light winds, good visibility.
Above 1000m there is a southerly wind and wet snow at over 25m/s, especially on the Hanazono side, preceding the approaching low pressure system, with snow drift development on the north side of the range. After the low pressure system passes around 9am a westerly wind and snow will pick up and snow drift development will shift to the SE side of the range. From the 5am Moiwa observation snow drift development from the southerly wind was 40cm, rapidly formed with cornices fracture with little stimulation.
At elevations below 800m, up to 30cm deep avalanches will easily occur, fracturing on jan 26 layer, on 40 deg creek side walls and under lift lines on the east side of the mountain (Hirafu/Hanazono side).The snow is wet and heavy, be careful. After the low pressure system has passed, dry surface avalanches will easily occur this afternoon with the new colder snowdrift growth expected to start around 10am. The avalanche risk will rise to high in the Niseko range from noon through at least tomorrow morning. Peak gate opening yet to be decided. Be aware of the snowfall transition. Make your actions match the conditions. Do not duck ropes.
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 27th January 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 315cm (-5cm)
- Base: 175cm (-15cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Top lift on hold at start of the day
- Planned: Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, King Number 3 Quad, King Number 4
- Ace Family Quad and Ace Number 2 Center Four lifts operate for night skiing
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (+0cm)
- Base: 175cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Planned: All three lifts
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (+0cm)
- Base: 190cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Top lift on hold at start of the day
- Planned: All lifts apart from Jumbo Number 3
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (+0cm)
- Base: 160cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Planned: Niseko Gondola, Community Chair, Banzai Chair and Wonderland Chair
- Community Chair and Banzai Chair lifts operate 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.
The Ace Pair Number 1, 3 and 4, King Pair Number 1 lift and King Quad Number 2 lifts are being rested for the season at Niseko Grand Hirafu.
There may be other lift operation changes at the moment due to coronavirus situation.
Do be sure to check for details with ski areas.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Wednesday 27th January 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 769cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 55 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 34cm (31st December and 18th January) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 359cm 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.