Niseko Now: Sunday 30th December 2018
- Dec 30, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 17cm
Snowfall at base this season 406cm
Posted on Sunday 30th December 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There are just two more days left in 2018 - they're really flying by aren't they.
I hope I'm not boring you with news of fresh snowfall every day - today I am measuring 17cm. Right now the snow seems to be easing off and there are even signs that there might be a few breaks in the cloud. Or maybe not. The forecasts show snow clouds generally remaining over the region.
As you might notice below it looks like Gate 6 is going to be opening along with gates 2 and 3 from 1st January.
I'm not feeling particularly wordy this morning, so let's leave it at that for today and enjoy the excellent conditions that we have right now.
---
Niseko Avalanche Report:
Mountain Base 6.00am: -7°, 10cm new snow in the last 12 hrs, calm. Moiwa 800m: -10°, NW8m/s, 40cm new snow in last 24hrs, snowdrift development. Mikaeri Weather Station: snow depth 210cm. Niseko Village Mizuno no Sawa 1000m: -10.12°, 21cm new snow in last 12 hrs. Hirafu Ridgeline: -12°, NW10m/s, snow drift development. Kutchan Weather Station: snow depth 103cm. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NW13m/s. Kamui Cape: NNE9m/s, 1003hPa, wave 3.0m.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is shallow and the snow wind is calming down. The western Mikaeri area has received quite a lot of snow and snowdrift development. Yesterdays tracks are mostly buried. From observation the avalanche risk is dropping, however be careful around knolls and on cornice slopes. The risk of avalanche from a deep layer continues. Please do not enter strictly off limits areas like Haru no Taki.
Gate 6 is expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols advice and prepare before entering out of bounds areas. Preparations are being made to open peak gates 2 & 3 on New Years Day. Do not duck ropes to enter Kozan no sawa, Osawa or Fujiwara no sawa.
Niseko protects your freedom to ride out of bounds, but at the same time is seriously concerned with your safety, please respect and follow Niseko Rules. The snow in the trees is good. Watch for a sudden change in the weather. Have a good day.
---
Ski resort operation information: Sunday 30th December 2018
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report. Subject to change!
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 260cm
- Base: 130cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts apart from Ace Number 4 pair lift are normally operating
- 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
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 186cm
- Base: 137cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All Hanazono lifts are normally operating
- The Hanazono lifts are normally open until 3:30pm
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono Courses:
- All official courses are now available
-----
Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 200cm
- Base: 110cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All Annupuri lifts are normally operating
- The Jumbo 1 lift is normally open until 8:30pm during the evening
-----
Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 220cm
- Base: 120cm
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts apart from the Country Road Chair are normally operating
- 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 Sunday 30th December 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 406cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 33 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 322cm 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.