Niseko Now: Sunday 31st December 2017
- Dec 31, 2017
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 594cm
Posted on Sunday 31st December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There is no fresh snowfall to report this morning. Which means that I have observed a total of 594cm of snowfall here at base up until now this season. What an amazing number that is to be able to report at the end of December. Especially when you compare it to the number from the 16/17 season at the same point in the season - 293cm. That looks downright poor now doesn't it. (Not that it ever looked impressive, of course - please go back and read my reports from last year for the full story and me not being particularly excited about proceedings).
I will post a good old long-worded look back at the season so far... probably on Tuesday or Wednesday, because some cheeky monkeys may well not read my report tomorrow.
So back to today.
Things are calm this morning. There is cloud around but some breaks in the clouds too. We might see some end of the year sunshine during the day today. It is due to be somewhat milder during the day today and perhaps tomorrow too, though still hanging around zero at base, possibly just nudging above.
All resorts open and gates are expected to open. It should be a fine day. And as you can see from the webcam images below, quite a few people lined up for the early lifts. Come on, give us a wave!
You might notice the mention of the word 'wet' in the Avalanche Report below when talking about tomorrow. Wet is a word that we never want to hear in winter, but wet snow would be better than wet rain. Fingers crossed.
Things might not be so calm tonight. There might be one or two people out and about this evening, maybe even partaking in a celebratory sip or two of wine or other fave beverage. You can enjoy watching some torchlight skiing and fireworks if you like. Whatever you choose, have fun and take care. In the past there have been a few serious incidents involving people 'post-bar'. It's cold and slippy - be sure you know where you are going and be with a friend is my best advice.
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Thank you for reading the reports and using SnowJapan in 2017. Here's to a very fine 2018; preferably without lots of the frustrating and downright strange 'news' going on in the world. (Oooh, political!)
I hope that you have a wonderful New Years Eve. And I will see you tomorrow, after my first toast of the year.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6.00am: -7°, no new snow. Moiwa 800m : -4.4°, N3.8m/s, no new snow. Annupuri 1150m: -7°, light winds, no new snow. Hirafu 1250m: -8°, light winds, no new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: SSW2m/s. Kamui Cape: light wind, 1020hPa, wave 0.7m.
Atmospheric pressure is stable, weather is calm, no snow clouds over the Sea of Japan and no new snow in Niseko. A strong northerly wind yesterday afternoon caused snow development to become ribbed. Between 800-1000m a 50cm thick hard slab has formed in some locations. From observation and tests, snowdrifts are stable and except places like Backbowl sidewall, avalanche risk is low.
A low pressure system is expected to move into the area tomorrow bringing wet snow from the east. From this mornings survey, around 1000m a surface frost has formed from radiative cooling. This current surface is expected become an avalanche sliding surface in the future snowpack. All peak gates expected to open. Listen to the patrols advice and prepare before going out of bounds. There are lots of hard tracks from yesterday, be careful riding. Groomers are in really good shape.
Please respect and follow Niseko Rules. Entry into Haru no Taki and YunoSawa are Strictly monitored. If you get caught entering you will be banned from using ski resorts.
We thank all the people who come to Niseko and respect the rules, the ski patrol who protect us, the grooming operators, lift operators and all others who make Niseko the special place it is. Happy New Year.
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Sunday 31st December 2017
Resort specific information (operations subject to change):
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts are operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 325cm
- Base: 160cm
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts are operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 240cm
- Base: 160cm
Niseko Village
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
- All lifts except Country Road Chair are operating
Official snow depth:
- Top: 250cm
- Base: 170cm
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Floodlit 'nighta' skiing:
Night skiing is planned for every evening at the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas. There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO area. Ski lifts that are scheduled to be operating for nighta are noted below (subject to change):
* Niseko Grand Hirafu - Ace Family quad, Ace Number 2 quad, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Number 1 pair
* Niseko Annupuri - Jumbo Number 1 quad lift
* Niseko Village - Village Express, Upper Village Gondola, Community Chair, Banzai Chair
Niseko Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Sunday 31st December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 594cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 38 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (21st December) November 2017 snowfall 188cm reported on 11 days December 2017 snowfall 406cm reported on 27 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.