Niseko Now: Friday 3rd February 2017
- Feb 3, 2017
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 491cm
Posted on Friday 3rd February 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There's more fresh snowfall to report this morning. Another 14cm of it, making 48cm over the last three reports -- at base. With more snow at higher elevations and top lifts affected yesterday, we should be on for some lovely snow conditions this morning. And checking the start-of-the-day lines for the lifts, it looks like lots of people have the same idea.
Light snow is still falling now but it may clear up during the day, leaving us with a calm weekend and maybe some sunshine (particularly on Sunday).
It should be a very good day!
---
Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -11℃, 20cm snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -8.5℃, strong NE wind, 40cm snowfall and snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -15℃, NNW10m/s, 30cm snowfall with snowdrift development. Hirafu 1250m: -17℃, strong westerly wind, 20cm snowfall and snowdrifts. Kamui cape lighthouse: NW8m/s, 1011hPa, 1.7m waves.
The isobars started to spread out but strong wind is persisting in higher elevation. The snow has fallen mainly in western 800m area and made cornices and snowdrifts develop in large scale. The top 30cm of the new snowdrifts is likely to slide from Feb 1st pre-low pressure snowfall, but the lower half is consolidating and stabilizing. The cornices are hard and dense, but would break at 120cm depth. The avalanche risk remains high in wind-affected leeward open steep and cornice slopes above 1000m. There are no safe conditions in mid-winter mountains. Be conservative until the weather stabilizes.
The snow in the trees is in good shape, however is highly wind affected and a bit heavy and hard to get back up after a fall. Gates’ opening is not decided. Please follow the ski patrol’s decision. One track left under a rope will lead many others to do the same and increase the chances of accidents to happen. Do not duck ropes. Visibility is poor and beware of frostbites. Have a nice day.
---
Official resort snow depths as of Friday 3rd February 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 340cm
Base - 150cm
Niseko Village
Top - 280cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 300cm
Base - 140cm
---
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 Friday 3rd February 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 491cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 57 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 48cm reported on 3 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.