Niseko Now: Monday 28th February 2022
- Feb 28, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 1054cm
Posted on Monday 28th February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Not quite 10cm of snow from my measurement this morning. Unfortunately the top lifts at all four ski areas are on hold at the start of the day, as well as the gondola at Annupuri. Pesky winds indeed. All other lifts currently planning to be open as scheduled.
Visibility is varied and actually quite poor just at the moment over at Hirafu.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -3℃, 10cm new snow, moderate westerly, snow storm, poor visibility. Moiwa 800m: -6.2℃, WNW11.9m/s, 15cm new snow, 100cm cornice development, 60cm snow drift development. Annupuri 1150m: -9.5℃, WNW11m/s, gusts to 20m/s, new snow blown off and wind crust developing. Hirafu 1250m: -13℃,W15m/s,new snow blown off, blizzard. Coastal data- Benkei cape: WNW14m/s, Kamui cape: WNW8m/s, 1010hPa, 1.7m waves.
The isobars are close together, the seas are stormy with an increasing swell and the mountains are in blizzard conditions with cornice and snowdrift development above 800m. East facing cornice slopes are accumulating snow with high avalanche risk on 30deg slopes. At the moment snowdrift development(hard slabs) is shallow, however development is rapidly increasing and there is the risk of drifts fracturing on weak layers with little stimulation. Peak gates will be closed. Please respect the patrol's decision. Do not duck ropes. Riding in the trees is recommended today. Visibility is limited, be careful of crashing into trees and other obstacles. It feels cold today, beware hypothermia and frostbite. Its not spring yet.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 28th February 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 430cm (no change)
- Base: 225cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 362cm (-3cm)
- Base: 267cm (+2cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 13cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (no change)
- Base: 250cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm
- Base: 230cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Monday 28th February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 1054cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 84 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December and 22nd February) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 337cm 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.