Niseko Now: Saturday 28th January 2023
- Jan 28, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 24cm
Snowfall at base this season 654cm
Posted on Saturday 28th January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
And what a morning it should be. We have a really good new layer of snow from overnight. I have just measured 24cm and, as you can see below, Hirafu is reporting 38cm and Hanazono reporting 32cm on their upper areas. Once again, it's very fine looking snow.
Niseko doesn't specialise in some of the truly bonkers snowfall that places in Honshu can sometimes suddenly receive. (Last season, the most I recorded in any one report was 40cm). Niseko specialities definitely include consistency and quality of snow*.
And toast, of course.
Conditions should be excellent again this morning. It is still snowing lightly but quite bright too. Visibility looks decent and wind shouldn't mess with any plans.
* Not that other places don't. (Before anyone gets overly-sensitive!)
** Niseko Village are still stuck on their '0cm' of new snowfall. (Doh!)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -10C, light wind, 25cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -12.6C, W7.1m/s, 30cm new snow, minor snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -15.4C, WNW6.9m/s, 30cm new snow. Mizuno no Sawa: -14.0C, NNW6.2m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -15.0C,NW2.2m/s. Hanazono#3: -12.1C, NNW4.0m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NW16m/s, Kamui Cape WSW12m/s, 1002hPa, 1.5m waves.
The low pressure system to the south has moved east and we are now in a typical winter high west/east low pressure pattern. The westerly wind is around 10m/s, however with heavy snowfall cornice and snowdrift development continues slowly. Above 800m the wind and snow is expected to pick up as the isobars tighten today. From observation and tests, snowdrifts are stable and the general avalanche risk is low. All gates are expected to be open. Please follow the patrols instructions. Do not duck ropes to go out of bounds - use the gates. In strictly off limits areas, the south facing Haru no Taki and SE facing Yu no Sawa, there is the possibility of deep fractures and slab avalanches due to the heavy snowfall and sun . Do not enter. At this time there is always the risk of avalanche at high elevation Kozan no Sawa sidewall, Annupuri Osawa cornice face and HigashiOne cornice face. Do not ride hear without consideration. Traversing under cornices and simultaneous riding can trigger an avalanche at any elevation. Beware. Do not wait in valley bottoms or at the bottom of open slopes. Snow in the trees is deep, and good. We wish everyone at the winter ranger training good luck. Have a good day.
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Ski area information for Saturday 28th January 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 38cm
- Base: 38cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 355cm (+30cm since yesterday)
- Base: 155cm (+25cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 32cm
- Base: 29cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 286cm (+21cm since yesterday)
- Base: 236cm (+9cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 195cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Saturday 28th January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 654cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th and 28th January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 301cm 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.