Niseko Now: Wednesday 29th December 2021
- Dec 29, 2021
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 370cm
Posted on Wednesday 29th December 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I was out at Hanazono for night skiing yesterday. The snow was wonderful.
Mt Yotei was looking beautiful earlier on this morning but is now shrouded in cloud. It's still fairly bright in places as I put this report together, and we can expect the chance of some more snow during the day. (Actually let me update that in real time, some very light snow falling right now). Probably not much in terms of cm today but we will be getting more from tomorrow and on New Years Eve.
Today is the day that them there top lifts get moving! Yes, the Wonderland Chair at Niseko Village, the Jumbo Number 4 pair at Niseko Annupuri are confirmed to be moving and it looks like the top King Number 4 at Hirafu will be open too (apparently depending on conditions). That means that the mountain is now pretty much all open, perhaps with just a few minor exceptions.
Yey!
One other update as I am about to post the report: Hirafu Gondola is having some early morning issues.
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I have said it before but the sometimes the truly bonkers amount of snowfall in short periods of time that some areas 'down south' receive is always very interesting to me. Some seem to get these magnificent spurts of ridiculous amounts of snow, but can then go dry for longer periods and not be that cold. I get the impression it's much more variable than here. Up here -- generally -- we seem to enjoy a more consistent season. The huge amounts must be really exciting, but I think I would prefer consistency.
I won't get into comparing snow quality. That's definitely very controversial, but also well beyond my (ahem) expertise. I wish I knew those places better. I suppose for now I will just have to put up with knowing Niseko well. ;)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -7℃, 10cm snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -11℃, NNW8m/s, 15cm new snow, cornices and snowdrifts developing. Annupuri 1100m: -10℃, 15cm new snow, calm. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW8m/s, Kamui cape: SW10m/s, 1018hPa, 1.2m waves.
Wintery pressure distribution has loosened and the isobars are wide. Weak NW snow storm continued until dawn at above 800m elevation and cornices are slowly developing. Based on observation and weather data evaluation, the general avalanche risk is relatively low today. Yesterday’s track has been mostly reset. Cornices are likely to widely collapse, be careful. The snowpack is turning into thick slabs in wind-affected steep slopes with wind crests under the cornices and could fracture from a deeper weak layer. Avoid dropping in simultaneously and/or traversing slopes. Do not stay in the bottom of the gullies after riding. Snow is good in the treeruns.
Hirafu, Annupuri, and Village’s Peak chair-lifts are opening today. Thanks to the groomer operators and ski patrols, the groomer runs are looking great. Watch out for overspeeding and collisions. Wind direction will change in the morning. Beware of the sudden change in the weather.
Niseko avalanche meeting will be held from 6pm at Niseko chomin centre today. Mr Yuji Ishikawa, chairman of the Hokkaido Mountaineering Association will come as a guest and it is a rare chance to hear his talk. Hope the meeting will be a fruitful one.
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 29th December 2021
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: 255cm (+10cm)
- Base: 135cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
- King Number 4 (*maybe)
Planned open courses:
- Perhaps all open today (maybe)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm (-3cm)
- Base: 147cm (+2cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations:
- 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: 190cm (no change)
- Base: 130cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- 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
Planned open courses:
- All but one course are now open
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 190cm -
- Base: 130cm -
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: ?cm
- Base: ?cm
Planned lift operations:
- 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 Wednesday 29th December 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 370cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 27 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 285cm reported on 21 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.