Niseko Now: Saturday 27th January 2024
- Jan 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 662cm
Posted on Saturday 27th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Just about 1cm of snow to report since yesterday. As I write this, it is snowing over at Hanazono, but there is a bit of sun breaking through on the Annupuri side of the mountain. So we have some varied weather conditions at the start of the weekend.
It does feel milder this morning and is currently just over freezing at base.
But perhaps the biggest news of the day is that there is less wind and those top lifts should be opening as planned.
Hurray!
Expect a mad rush to the top.
Take care, folks. Let's Saturday.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am: -2°, calm, no new snow. Moiwa 800m: -4.8°, N4.7m/s, snowdrift development, good visibility. Mikaeri 764m: -5°, wind crust. Niseko Village 1000m: -5.6°, N5.1m/s. Hanazono 1000m: -6.0°. Hanazono 3 : -4.2°, NNE5m/s, 30cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NE7m/s. Kamui Cape E3m/s, 1015hPa, wave 2.2m.
The typical winter atmospheric pressure pattern continues, the isobars are moving further apart, the wind is dropping and yesterdays wind blown snow is starting to stabilise. From observation and data peak gates are expected to be open. Please follow the patrols advice. And as always – outside the gates is not the ski resort. Niseko respects rider freedom and allows them to ride outside the ski resort, subject to conditions though, by opening and closing the gates. Do not leave the ski area when the gate are closed. Never duck any ropes and never enter Strictly Off Limits areas Haru no Taki or Yunosawa. Today's heavy accumulation of aeolian snow can easily cause boards to get stuck. Ride carefully. The East Ridge (Higashi One) cornice has grown massively, do not go near it. Beware cracks around 1200m onthe East Ridge. The avalanche danger continues on Osawa cornice slope and Backbowl sidewall. Do not traverse under the cornices. Avoid being in the bottom of a valley, which is an avalanche path. There is no safety in winter mountains. Avalanches are a natural phenomenon, but accidents happen because people are involved. Is the beacon on? Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Saturday 27th January 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: 310cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from Ace Number 1 pair, King Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad
- The Ace Family quad, Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four), Hirafu Gondola and Holiday Number 1 pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 2cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm (-10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (-5cm since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- The Hanazono Symphony Gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 239cm (+1cm since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (-3cm since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from Country Road
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Saturday 27th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 662cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 58 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 295cm reported on 23 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.