Niseko Now: Tuesday 2nd April 2019
- Apr 2, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 945cm
Posted on Tuesday 2nd April 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Mostly cloudy, some blue skies, some sun now but some light snow falling in places. We might just get a bit more still.
Here's my look back at March and the season so far...
A look back at the season so far: March 2019
My oh my, it is already April. I probably say this too often but... how the seasons fly by!
As much as spring can be a lot of fun though, I think this year the spring season seems to have been with us for longer than most of us would like. And there’s still over a month of it to go!
If you remember I was only able to measure and record 9cm of fresh snowfall over the last 12 days of February so as we entered March, we were all hoping that we would see a return to more winter-like weather.
Unfortunately, I was not able to add any more cm of fresh snowfall to a report until my report on 12th March. From that day there was a run of five mornings when I could report some fresh snowfall, but even with that the total snowfall for the month of March was standing at just 14cm by 22nd March.
Happily, we got a bit more snow in the last week of the month which helped us ‘save face’ a bit! And put some renewed smiles on faces. In the end, the total for March 2019 was 45cm. (Phew!)
So in the end here is the amount of snowfall that I have measured close to my Hirafu base during the month of March in each of the last seven seasons:
March 2019: 45cm
March 2018: 49cm
March 2017: 83cm
March 2016: 109cm
March 2015: 139cm
March 2014: 113cm
March 2013: 164cm
And here are the 'season up to the end of March' totals over the last seven seasons:
2018/2019 season up to end of March 2019: 945cm
2017/2018 season up to end of March 2018: 1247cm
2016/2017 season up to end of March 2017: 688cm
2015/2016 season up to end of March 2016: 986cm
2014/2015 season up to end of March 2015: 1141cm
2013/2014 season up to end of March 2014: 1150cm
2012/2013 season up to end of March 2013: 1459cm
The total numbers look decent, but that period between mid-February and mid-March was very lacking in fresh snow.
OK, so can we expect any/much more from now or is that it for the season?
In recent years this is how much snow I have been able to observe near Hirafu base from 1st April through until the lifts close at the end of the season:
From 1st April through the end of the season 2018: 13cm
From 1st April through the end of the season 2017: 0cm
From 1st April through the end of the season 2016: 6cm
From 1st April through the end of the season 2015: 3cm
From 1st April through the end of the season 2014: 13cm
From 1st April through the end of the season 2013: 34cm
So we might get a little if we are lucky - and as always, more likely higher up than at base - but we really cannot expect much. Think of it as a bonus if it happens.
The last piece of data is the snowfall numbers that the Japan Meteorological Agency report from their observation station in Kutchan town. Here is what they have reported for the month of March over the last seven years:
March 2019: ??cm
March 2018: 59cm
March 2017: 90cm
March 2016: 125cm
March 2015: 141cm
March 2014: 118cm
March 2013: 124cm
I will do a full end-of-season report in my last report on or around Monday 6th May, the planned last day of the season.
I mentioned this previously but it was good to see Niseko HANAZONO extend their season from 31st March to 7th April. It goes to show we got decent snowfall in those first three months of the season.
I will be here with you a new report every day until 6th May.
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Ski resort operation information: Tuesday 2nd April 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 325cm
- Base: 100cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Ace Number 1, 2, 3 pairs, King Number 1 pair, King Number 2 quad and Swinging Monkey lifts closed
- Plans to be open until Monday 6th May
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 226cm
- Base: 150cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- All lifts open
- Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April
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Niseko Annupuri
Plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 250cm
- Base: 80cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Jumbo Number 2 and 3 pair lifts closed
- Plans to be open until Monday 6th May
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Niseko Village
Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April 2019
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 250cm
- Base: 80cm
Ski lifts operation news:
- Upper Village Gondola, Community Chair, Morino Chair and Country Road closed
- Plans to be open until Sunday 7th April
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Tuesday 2nd April 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 945cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 91 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 333cm reported on 26 days January 2019 snowfall 285cm reported on 25 days February 2019 snowfall 198cm reported on 20 days March 2019 snowfall 45cm reported on 12 days April 2019 snowfall 0cm |
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.