Niseko Now: Saturday 2nd February 2019
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 730cm
Posted on Saturday 2nd February 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Oh dear. It's still very cold, windy and blizzard-like conditions here this morning. It's not letting up yet!
Just lower lifts are opening at the start of the day - 3 lifts at Hirafu, 5 lifts at Village, and 1 lift at both Annupuri and Hanazono are starting up.
Another 7cm of snowfall measured but that wind has been blowing it around and it's not exactly coming down straight either. So it is one of those days when you wonder just how much has fallen. Can't do more than just measure it though in the meantime!
Visibility is better this morning and while there is still a lot of cloud about, there is actually a bit of blue sky on show too.
Tomorrow should be calmer and we'll see some milder temps before dropping again around Monday and more snow moving in.
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Real danger awaits in these conditions. Do be sensible and careful. And see you tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain Base 6.00am: -9°, 5cm new snow in the last 12 hrs, strong wind and snowdrift development. Moiwa 800m: -11.3, N18m/s, continued cornice and snowdrift development . Mikaeri Weather Station: -11°, 150cm snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: snow depth 215cm. Hirafu Ridgeline: -15°, N15m/s. Mizuno no Sawa: -12.79°, 8cm new snow in last 24hrs, snow depth 160cm. WNW9.9m/s.(max21.1m/s 5.30am). Suttsu Weather Station: -3.8°, NNW21.5m/s, snow depth 47cm. Kutchan Weather Station: -6.9°, WNW9.9m/s, snow depth 162cm.
Blizzard conditions at mountain base. Above 800m there is major snowdrift and cornice development from the strong winds. Tests show delayed snow drift stabilisation and cornices are easily collapsing. On SE faces around 1000m there is a risk of cornice collapse triggering surface avalanches around 100cm depth. Predicted fracture layer is Jan 30 frost layer. Even if the wind drops and lifts are able to run, do not go into Osawa or Kozan no Sawa valley bottoms. Also on the surrounding mountains take care on leeward snowdrift slopes, even below the treeline.
Snow in trees is heavy, wind packed and a challenge. Be careful hitting a tree. Expect easily occurring avalanches in the steep gulleys in Moiwa Anbetsu area. Don’t follow tracks that you don’t know where they are going. Most accidents happen during or directly after blizzards. Even if the weather comes good, stay out of the valley bottoms. Always be cautious.
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Ski resort operation information: Saturday 2nd February 2019
Subject to change due to weather conditions
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 330cm
- Base: 120cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Just three base lifts operating at the start of the day
- The Ace Family quad (until 8:30pm), Ace Center 4 quad (8:20pm), Hirafu Gondola (until 8:10pm) and Holiday Number 1 pair (until 8:30pm) lifts are normally open during the evening
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 245cm
- Base: 190cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Just the base lift operating at the start of the day
- The Hanazono lifts are normally open until 3:50pm (Number 3 until 3:30pm)
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 150cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Just the base Dream quad lift operating at the start of the day
- The Jumbo 1 lift is normally open until 8:30pm during the evening
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 160cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Upper Village Gondola, Village Express, Community Chair, Banzai and Morino operating at the start of the day
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are normally open until 8:00pm during the evening
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Saturday 2nd February 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 730cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 61 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 28cm reported on 2 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.