Niseko Now: Tuesday 31st January 2023
- Jan 31, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 19cm
Snowfall at base this season 685cm
Posted on Tuesday 31st January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Another fine delivery of fine fresh snow to report this morning.
I was just over at Annupuri and I got the impression that there has been more snowfall over there than here close to Hirafu base, but it's still a good haul. I see the Avalanche Report is saying there is up to 40cm in places and Hirafu reports up to 30cm. Fantastic.
Another demonstration of varying numbers, the Kutchan weather station east of the station and away from the ski areas of course, is recording 8cm over the last 24 hours. (Oh, and Niseko Village are reporting, you guessed it, 0cm. I promise not to mention that (much) again!
Let's just say that there is fresh snow out there, it's nice and cold and conditions should be excellent.
After earlier snowfall, there's even a bit of sun as I write this over (8:15am) at Hanazono. It probably won't last. (It hasn't @ 8:30am).
Snow is expected on and off through until at least the weekend.
I will do my usual look back at January and the season so far by the end of the week.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -9C, 30cm new snow and still falling. Moiwa 800m: -12.2C, W5.6m/s, 40cm new snow, poor visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -15.2C, WNW6.0m/s, 40cm new snow. Mizuno no Sawa: -13.8C, NNW3.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -15.0C, NNE2.8m/s. Hanazono#3: -12.0C, SSE0.7m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NW13m/s, Kamui Cape WNW12m/s, 1013hPa, 1.6m waves.
Following an inflow of warm area, a typical winter type atmospheric pressure pattern developed with moderate NW winds above 1000m and slow snowdrift development. On the west side of the mountain a lot of snow has fallen with 50cm accumulated at the 800m elev Mikaeri Radio tower. Below 800m the snow in the trees is deep.
Soft slabs have developed on Kozan no Sawa sidewall, Osawa cornice slope and HigashiOne cornice slope due to winds up to 15m/s and heavy snowfall. From observation, these slabs are not stable and will easily fracture on weak lines. Even if the winds drop and the lifts and gates can open, stay off open steep slopes above 1100m. There have been many accidents lately. More people means more accidents. Everyone needs to be careful to prevent accidents. There is no safety in this sport. We would like to express our deepest condolences to those who have lost their lives and to their families.
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Ski area information for Tuesday 31st January 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 30cm
- Base: 30cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 345cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 155cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 16cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 225cm (+8cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 170cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 195cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 175cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Tuesday 31st January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 685cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 59 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th and 28th January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm 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.