Niseko Now: Monday 3rd January 2022
- Jan 3, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 12cm
Snowfall at base this season 436cm
Posted on Monday 3rd January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good news: it's snowing heavily as of 8:30am.
Less great news: Pesky wind has been the headline since yesterday and they are going to be causing lift disruption at the start of the day today. At 8:30am only the bottom lift at Annupuri is moving and only the gondola at Hanazono is operating. The Niseko Village gondola is on hold as are all of the top lifts. That situation might well change any time, of course. Looks like the Morino Chair at Village is taking over some duties this morning.
It's one of those days when sitting it out and waiting for things to calm down will probably be the choice for many. (Not us gnarly folk, of course). For those braving the conditions, special care advised today. Visibility is limited and I imagine there's going to be snowdrift and all sorts of things to deal with. Hopefully tomorrow should be calmer and there'll be more to see.
A cold one too, so be sure to have those layers. Or, alternatively, sit in front of a fire and get all toast(y)!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -9℃, stormy and bad visibility, 20cm snowfall. Moiwa800m: Stormy, heavy cornice and snowdrift developments. Annupuri1100m: -14℃, heavy cornice and snowdrift developments, fracturing at 100cm. Hirafu peak ridge: -17℃, stormy, no visibility. Coastal data Benkei cape NW22m/s, Kamui cape WSW19m/s, 1009hPa, 3.4m waves.
The strong wintry pressure distribution pattern is delivering a heavy snowstorm. Cornices and snowdrifts are largely developing. Snowdrifts are firm and forming slabs that can easily slide from yesterday’s snowfall layer. 100cm thick slabs are likely to slide in some places. Impact stimulation runs instantly throughout the slab. Avalanche risk is high in all elevations today. It is best to stay inbounds. Many of the past avalanche accidents in Niseko happened while riding out of bounds during bad weather. Avalanches are natural occurrences, accidents only happen if a person is present where it happens. Do not duck ropes.
Roads are also treacherous today, please drive carefully. We strongly hope no accident happens today. Have a nice day.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 3rd January 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm (+5cm)
- Base: 155cm (+15cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
- King Number 4
Planned open courses:
- All courses open
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 225cm (+10cm)
- Base: 170cm (+15cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 22cm
Planned lift operations:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change)
- Base: 140cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations:
- All lifts operating
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
Planned open courses:
- All but one course are now open
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm no change
- Base: 140cm no change
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Monday 3rd January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 436cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 32 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 44cm 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.