Niseko Now: Wednesday 27th March 2019
- Mar 27, 2019
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 940cm
Posted on Wednesday 27th March 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There is a bit more fresh snow to report to you this morning from base and light snow might be what we get at times during the day today.
It is keeping rather windy at the moment and this morning all of the top lifts as well as the Annupuri Gondola on hold.
Quite cold as well with temperatures not likely to rise much into positive numbers during the day.
There are now just 12 more days left for the Niseko Hanazono (good on you for extending) and Niseko Village areas.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain base 6am: -1℃, slight snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -4℃, NNW8.74m/s, cornice and snowdrifts developments. Annupuri1100m: -8.3℃, WNW8.1m/s, 250cm snow depth. Hirafu peak: -7℃, strong westerly wind developing snowdrifts. Hirafu1000m: -8.3℃, W6m/s, Kutchan weather station: 0.3℃, WNW7.1m/s, 86cm snow depth. Benkei cape: NNW17m/s, Kamui cape: NW11m/s, 1006hPa, 2.5m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is steep and a strong westerly wind is blowing above 800m elevation, making snowdrifts and cornices develop quickly. Although not thick, those snowdrifts are very unstable and the avalanche risk will remain high in leeward steep slopes and knoll terrain during the morning, even after the wind calms down. Wide avalanches triggered by riding stimulation of crusty snowdrifts are also to be expected in 1000m valley sidewalls and cornice slopes. 10cm thick slides can run very fast and cannot be overrun. It is strongly recommended to avoid those kind of slopes until the wind calms down.
Thaw will progress in lower elevation, beware of falling snow-bridges. 10cm of fresh snow has blanketed the tree-runs. Gates opening is undetermined, please respect the ski patrol’s instructions. The artificial avalanche experimentation operated by Nagoya University and NIED has finished successfully. Debris and cracks are present in Mikaeri bowl, although the Moiwa gate 6 is closed, please use caution when touring in this area. We would like to thank the cooperation of Moiwa resort and their cat operators.
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Ski resort operation information: Wednesday 27th March 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 330cm
- Base: 100cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Top lifts affected by wind
- Ace Number 1 pair, King Number 4 and Ace Number 4 pair lift closed
- Plans to be open until Monday 6th May
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 233cm
- Base: 145cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Top lift affected by wind
- Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April
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Niseko Annupuri
Plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 265cm
- Base: 100cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Jumbo Number 2, 3 and 4 pair lifts closed
- Plans to be open until Monday 6th May
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Niseko Village
Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 270cm
- Base: 100cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Community Chair and Wonderlandlifts closed
- Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Wednesday 27th March 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 940cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 89 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 333cm reported on 26 days January 2019 snowfall 285cm reported on 25 days February 2019 snowfall 198cm reported on 20 days March 2019 snowfall 40cm reported on 10 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.