Niseko Now: Thursday 2nd March 2017
- Mar 2, 2017
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 21
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 603cm
Posted on Thursday 2nd March 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It was all a little too warm yesterday and unfortunately we had to endure a bit of rain in the afternoon yesterday and, it appears, overnight. I decided to stay indoors but thankfully it seemed to be only light rain. I wonder if it managed to snow high up.
Anyway, this morning it is mild and overcast - and not raining. It is going to be another mild day though, before temperatures drop tonight and tomorrow should be colder. Perhaps with some fresh snow to fall...
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A look back at February 2017 and the season so far:
So, how was your February?
Before I start with my short commentary let me again make it clear that I personally have enjoyed the last month very much and I have met many fine people on the ski lifts enjoying their holidays here. And that’s what it’s all about!
As part of my duties doing these reports, though, I need to look a look back at the numbers and compare them to our own (high) standards. Remember, I have no control over the numbers – I just report what I see, so I’m dealing with what nature delivers.
The first few days of February 2017 month started off rather promising with a run of days with decent snowfall, but then we hit a rather prolonged dry spell and it was only in the last ten days or so of the month when we got back to regular snowfall. One thing that struck me on looking back at the numbers was that there wasn’t one day in February when I recorded over 20cm of snow here at base.
The Niseko marketing machine of course boasts about the quality, quantity and consistency of snow to attract people here. And they do it very successfully too! Last season Niseko enjoyed more frequent snowfall than lots of other regions of Japan, and some of them enjoyed being able to make a point about that. I have spoken to a few people visiting Niseko over the last few months who chose to come here because they had noticed that other popular regions were relatively dry last season.
Looking at the numbers from other regions this time round though, to some extent that situation seems to have switched this season. (It does seem to be the case though that even if they got decent snow, it often got milder than usual in between the snowfalls. That's the impression I have been getting anyway, I may be wrong. We're a bit mild here too right at the moment, but generally it often keeps cold in Niseko even when it isn't snowing).
Perhaps it may well similarly 'switch' again next season, who knows.
Personally, I’d be happy if everyone just got tons of regular snowfall and there was none of the ‘we got more than you’ kind of rivalry!
Anyway, I’ll leave the words for now and just go over the numbers themselves. Snowfall at base, as observed first-hand by myself:
February 2017: 160cm
February 2016: 266cm
February 2015: 196cm
February 2014: 178cm
February 2013: 316cm
Here are the updated numbers showing the total observed snowfall from the beginning of the season until the end of February over the last handful of seasons:
2016/2017 season until the end of February 2017: 605cm
2015/2016 season until the end of February 2016: 877cm
2014/2015 season until the end of February 2015: 1002cm
2013/2014 season until the end of February 2014: 1037cm
2012/2013 season until the end of February 2013: 1295cm
And if we look at that number as a percentage of the total snowfall for the whole season:
2016/2017 % of total season snowfall by end of February 2016: ** remains to be seen **
2015/2016 % of total season snowfall by end of February 2016: about 88%
2014/2015 % of total season snowfall by end of February 2015: about 87%
2013/2014 % of total season snowfall by end of February 2014: about 89%
2012/2013 % of total season snowfall by end of February 2013: about 87%
It’s interesting how that percentage is almost identical every season!
And here are the actual observed snowfall numbers for March and April over recent seasons:
March 2016: 109cm
March 2015: 139cm
March 2014: 113cm
March 2013: 164cm
April 2016: 6cm
April 2015: 3cm
April 2014: 13cm
April 2013: 32cm
Remember... at base.
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As a further reference point, here are the numbers that the Japan Meteorological Agency have recorded in Kutchan Town for February and the season so far:
February 2017: 173cm
February 2016: 210cm
February 2015: 167cm
February 2014: 130cm
February 2013: 228cm
2016/2017 season until the end of February 2017: 741cm
2015/2016 season until the end of February 2016: 698cm
2014/2015 season until the end of February 2015: 825cm
2013/2014 season until the end of February 2014: 804cm
2012/2013 season until the end of February 2013: 900cm
Again, I find it interesting (and somewhat puzzling) how those readings are showing numbers that are larger than mine – and indeed larger than last season.
There’s just over two months to go with the last lifts of the season planned for Sunday 7th May.
I’ll be here with you every day right up until that last day.
And then I’ll have a nice long lie-in on Monday 8th May.
And on Tuesday 9th May.
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Official resort snow depths as of Thursday 2nd March 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 335cm
Base - 145cm
Niseko Village
Top - 315cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 315cm
Base - 140cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Thursday 2nd March 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 603cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 73 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 160cm reported on 19 days March 2017 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.