Niseko Now: Sunday 2nd January 2022
- Jan 2, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 18cm
Snowfall at base this season 424cm
Posted on Sunday 2nd January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It has started to snow again and is snowing very nicely as I write this and it will probably be continuing, perhaps on and off at times, through until Tuesday. It doesn't feel as cold this morning, yesterday really was cold!, but it's still down there well below zero.
Interesting to see the numbers in the Avalanche Report this morning, bit different from mine and the official numbers - ski areas generally reporting 10-20cm. (But that's ok, of course, as they are trusted folk and all can be 'correct'). Perhaps the stronger winds yesterday have some bearing on that.
Anyways, should be a good day and I don't think wind should be an issue. I'll see you tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base: -6℃, 40cm new snow in the last 24hrs, strong winds and snow stopped overnight. Moiwa 800m: -8℃, NNW5m/s, major cornice and snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -8℃,WNW5m/s, increased snowpack, cornice and snowdrift development. Hirafu: n/a. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: WNW10m/s. Kamui Cape: SW13m/s, 1016hPa, wave 1.6m.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is relaxing and the mountains are calm for the moment. There has been 40-50cm of new snowfall in the last 24hrs. Above the treeline there is major cornice and snow drift development, up to 150cm in some locations. From observation and data, there is high avalanche risk in Moiwa Mikaeri Bowl, Annupuri Osawa cornice slope, Kozan no Sawa and the entire Higashi One area. Hirafu Gate 3 is expected to be open today from 11.30am to 1.00pm. Gate 2 opening yet to be decided. Expect large surface avalanches in Annupuri Osawa, Kozan no Sawa and Higashi One cornice slopes. Even if the gates are open do not venture into these areas. All out of bounds riders are obligated to follow Niseko Rules, as are the ski resorts obligated to balance their responsibility to you for a safe experience at their resort and your freedom to ride. Do you have a beacon? Please listen to the partols advice and make sure you use gates to go out of bounds. Let's hope for no accidents. Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Sunday 2nd January 2022
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: 275cm (+15cm)
- Base: 140cm (-5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 13cm
- Base: 13cm
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
Planned open courses:
- All courses open
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 215cm (-5cm)
- Base: 155cm (-5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
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: 210cm (+20cm)
- Base: 140cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations:
- All lifts operating
- 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: 200cm +10cm
- Base: 140cm +10cm
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
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 Sunday 2nd January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 424cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 31 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 32cm 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.