Niseko Now: Friday 29th January 2021
- Jan 29, 2021
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 772cm
Posted on Friday 29th January 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have some fresh snow to report this morning. Not a huge amount - just a few cm and it is snowing as I write this report.
Unfortunately the wind that we thought might come with the snow is happening... and as of 8:30am there's only a handful of lifts opening. Lower lifts at all four Niseko United areas are moving (and have been noted in the list below) but all of the top lifts and Gondola lifts are on hold.
The forecasts now show consistent snowfall across the coming week so we should be seeing a reset. We just might have to put up with some unfriendly conditions as we move towards that!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data 6:25am. Cape Benkei:S11m/s. Cape Kamui:SSW2m/s, 992hPa, wave1.1m. Hanazono 1000m: -7.4℃, SSE14.4m/s. Hanazono 720:-5.0℃, S5.9m/s. Moiwa 800m: -5.1℃, SSW4.8m/s. Annupuri 1100m: -7.7℃, SSE4.8m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -7.2℃, SSE5.9m/s. Kutchan Town:-0.7℃, SE12m/s, snow depth 132cm, 993.0hPa. Moiwa base: -3, trace new snow in last 12hrs, good visibility, frozen.
A low pressure system is approaching. Below 800m on the west side, winds are below 15m/s, however above 1000m on the east side a strong 25-35m/s wind is blowing. On Higashi One cornice face and Kozan no Sawa side wall, wind blow snow has formed a 10cm hard slab which is prone to surface avalanches. Snow drifts formed pre dawn in front of the low pressure are hard, unstable and in the opposite direction than usual. They are expected to form a Jan 29 layer in the future. Be aware and cautious.
The wind will temporarily drop during the morning and then pick up again more strongly. Peak gates will be closed. Please respect the patrol's decisions. Today it is better to stay on the groomers. From 7.30am the snowfall on the west side of the range will be heavy with poor visibility. Be careful hitting trees. Please wear your helmet. Accidents occur in bad weather. Be careful.
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Planned ski area operations: Friday 29th January 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 315cm (-5cm)
- Base: 170cm (-5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family Quad, Ace Number 2 Quad lifts operating at the start of the day
- Planned: Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, King Number 3 Quad, King Number 4
- Ace Family Quad and Ace Number 2 Center Four lifts operate for night skiing
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (-7cm)
- Base: 165cm (-5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Two lower lifts operating at start of the day
- Planned: All three lifts
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (+0cm)
- Base: 190cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Dream Number 1 and Jumbo Number 1 lifts operating at start of the day
- Planned: All lifts apart from Jumbo Number 2 and 3
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (+0cm)
- Base: 160cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Community, Banzai and Morino Chair lifts are operating at the start of the day
- Planned: Niseko Gondola, Community Chair, Mori no Chair, Banzai Chair and Wonderland Chair
- Community Chair and Banzai Chair lifts operate for night skiing
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
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.
There may be other lift operation changes at the moment due to coronavirus situation.
Do be sure to check for details with ski areas.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Friday 29th January 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 772cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 34cm (31st December and 18th January) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 362cm 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.