Niseko Now: Monday 28th December 2020
- Dec 28, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 16cm
Snowfall at base this season 364cm
Posted on Monday 28th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning to you from Niseko.
And this morning how much do I have to report to you. 16cm of it. And I must say, it is delightfully wonderful quality snow too. It often is, of course, but some days it just is a bit more than others. (A bit like toast, I suppose).
And there's more good news... top lifts are set to be operating today.
See, Mondays can be fab.
All the lifts at Annupuri are now operating (though a few courses still not available on their slopes) but there are now fewer course areas that you can't venture to now.
All of the lifts at Niseko Grand Hirafu are moving too... that is, all of the lifts that plan to operate this season. Remember, five lifts are being rested for the season. I have added a note at the bottom of the report.
Please note that while the planned top lifts will be moving, the gates are not open yet.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data. Cape Benkei: N6m/s. Cape Kamui: E2m/s, 1019hPa, wave 0.6m. Hanazono 1000m: -702℃, SE2m/s. Hanazono 720: -6.3℃, WSW3.4m/s. Moiwa 800m: -5.3℃, WNW0.6m/s. Annupuri 1000m: -7.4℃, WNW3.7m/s. Kutchan Town: -5.4℃, NNE0.7m/s, snow depth 89cm, 1019hPa.
Currently there is a large high pressure over the Sea of Japan with very little pressure gradient. The seas and mountains are calm. Tests this morning at Moiwa peak showed cornices and snow drifts have settled, are hard and consolidated, snowdrifts formed until yesterday fracturing at 60-100cm. There is no weak layer in the slab from impact tests. From observation the general avalanche risk is low. 15cm snow fell overnight. Snow in the trees is shallow but fast.
Mizuno no Sawa avalache control started yesterday. Do not enter this area, it is dangerous. Mizuno no Sawa can have large avalanches which have run down to the courses on the lower mountain and into the lift loading area. A schedule for opening the area has not been determined yet. Please respect The Village Patrol’s decisions.
Peak lifts are all operating today. The gates are not open yet though. Do not duck ropes to enter Annupuri Osawa or Fujiwara no Sawa. Please listen to the patrol’s advice and respect Niseko Rules. Groomers are good today. Wear your Helmet and Beacon! have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 28th December 2020
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 220cm (-10cm)
- Base: 125cm (-5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All planned lifts operating (see note at bottom of report)
All courses open except:
- Large
- Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 160cm (-3cm)
- Base: 110cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 150cm (+0cm)
- Base: 110cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts operating
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 150cm (+0cm)
- Base: 100cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express [*]
- Community Chair [*]
- Banzai Chair [*]
- Morino Chair
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
Lifts marked [*] are scheduled to be operating during night skiing, until 8:00pm.
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.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Monday 28th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 364cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 28 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 302cm reported on 22 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.