Niseko Now: Monday 28th March 2022
- Mar 28, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 1135cm
Posted on Monday 28th March 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
By bringing in a few mm in hand, I think I can just about almost maybe justify 1cm of snowfall for this report, though it's a weird one - down here it's more like hail than fluffy snow. But whatever it is, it's white. We might have light snow/sleet/stuff during this morning but as I write this there's nothing coming down outside my place.
I'm afraid I have to report that the top lifts at Hanazono and Annupuri are not opening as planned at the start of the day. Hirafu and Village seem to be going ahead though.
-----
The Community Chair lift at Village and the Swinging Monkey lift at Hirafu are now closed for the season.
The Hirafu Gondola and Ace Family Quad lifts will be operating until 3rd April. So from 4th April, there will be (normally) three lifts operating at that ski area.
And, of course, Village, Hanazono and Moiwa are now both into their final week of the season.
-----
Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: 0℃, moderate westerly winds, trace new snow. Moiwa 800m: -2.1℃, WNW8.3m/s. Annupuri 1150m: -5.3℃, WNW10.3m/s. Hirafu 1000m: -5.1℃, WSW2.6m/s. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW16m/s, Kamui cape: W12m/s, 1008hPa, 1.5m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is steep with a strong westerly on the seas and mountains. Wind blown snow is forming a thin cornice growth and depositing on leeward slopes where there is possibility of surface avalanches up to 20cm depending on location this morning. Peak gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrol advice and prepare before exiting the gates. Surface avalanches occur during and for a time after periods of wind and snow, and in Niseko we can use this knowledge to predict their occurrence. However springtime full depth avalanches are unpredictable and could occur at any time. Cracks are a warning sign but sometimes the crack and avalanche can occur simultaneously. All we can say is that there is a danger out there. This year we need to be especially vigilant as the snowpack is deep. A Niseko spring full depth avalanche will raze the valley below leaving death and destruction in its path. This morning the mountain is frozen but conditions should improve as the day progresses. Have a good day!
-----
Planned ski area operations: Monday 28th March 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: 395cm (no change)
- Base: 180cm (-5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad (* until 3rd April)
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad
- Hirafu Gondola (* until 3rd April)
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open until Thursday 5th May
-----
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 335cm (-5cm)
- Base: 205cm (-7cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko HANAZONO plans to be open until Sunday 3rd April
-----
Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (no change)
- Base: 195cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko Annupuri plans to be open until Thursday 5th May
-----
Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm
- Base: 190cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Planned season:
- Night skiing has finished for the season
- Niseko Village plans to be open until Sunday 3rd April
-----
Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Planned season:
- Niseko Moiwa plans to be open until Sunday 3rd April
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Monday 28th March 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 1135cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 98 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 March 2022 snowfall 81cm reported on 14 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.