Niseko Now: Tuesday 3rd March 2020
- Mar 3, 2020
- 7 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 669cm
Posted on Tuesday 3rd March 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
6cm of fresh snowfall to report to you this morning. Yey!
It is relatively mild, so the snow doesn't look like top season fluffy light powder, but we'll take it.
There was lots of fog yesterday, this morning there is less but generally very cloudy and grey and while visibility is improved it's all a bit one-tone. And Annupuri are reporting fog this morning.
Here's lots more words...
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What we do... What they do
* Todays version ;)
Just yesterday, more than 15 people sent emails to SnowJapan asking specific – and sometimes very detailed - questions about the status of various businesses in Niseko. Are specific hotels and restaurants open as normal? Are opening times changed? Are ski lessons being held? Have transportation timetables changed? That kind of thing.
As I have tried to explain before, this website is not directly involved in such businesses, and we are not a tourism advice bureau. Everyone involved in keeping this website running smoothly is very busy doing ‘what we do’.
If you have questions regarding a hotel or a restaurant, I suggest directing those questions directly to that hotel or restaurant. Perhaps you could also direct questions to the people/company you have booked your holiday/accommodation with... or the tourism association.
These people will surely be able to answer such questions. After all, that is part of ‘what they do’.
While I unfortunately cannot be of specific help, I do wish you all good luck.
And with regards to the ski resorts; I report on this every day - they are open as planned each morning.
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The 2019-2020 season so far: through until the end of February 2020
The days and weeks and months whizz by, and here we are in March already. So once again it is time for me to take a look back on February and the season so far.
The usual up-front notes:
I take my measurements from close to the base of the Niseko Grand Hirafu area of our mountain. There is usually more snow at higher elevations; many locals often say there’s often ‘about 1.5 times the amount’ that there is at base. And often that seems reasonable. It is impossible for me to take measurements from the top of the mountain every morning for all sorts of practical reasons. The observed snowfall numbers on these Niseko Now reports over the years can all be compared like-for-like, because they are my observations and are coming from the same place each season. And it goes without saying that there's much more to the story than just bare numbers; they may be interesting, but they are not the complete picture. For a more complete idea of the season, please read the reports for each day!
This is how much snowfall I have measured during the month of February over the last eight winter seasons:
February 2020: 143cm
February 2019: 198cm
February 2018: 299cm
February 2017: 160cm
February 2016: 266cm
February 2015: 196cm
February 2014: 178cm
February 2013: 316cm
The month got off to a decent start with snow on nine consecutive days from the 2nd. Not massive numbers, but some consistency. There was then a period of five reports when I had no fresh to report before another consistent period of snowfall between 17th and 25th February. The month ended with a three-day spell of no fresh snowfall, and then a bit on the ‘bonus’ 29th!
I was able to report snowfall here at base on 19 of the 29 days in the month. The most in one day was 19cm. I definitely remember being up there and seeing 40+cm on one day though.
So, I observed a total of 143cm of snowfall over the month of reports. That unfortunately was the least number for a February since I started these reports in 2013.
Here are my ‘season to date’ numbers, from the beginning of this season to the end of February 2020:
2019/2020 season up to end of February 2020: 659cm
2018/2019 season up to end of February 2019: 900cm
2017/2018 season up to end of February 2018: 1198cm
2016/2017 season up to end of February 2017: 605cm
2015/2016 season up to end of February 2016: 877cm
2014/2015 season up to end of February 2015: 1002cm
2013/2014 season up to end of February 2014: 1037cm
2012/2013 season up to end of February 2013: 1295cm
The total for the season is better than – but comparable with - with the 2016-2017 season.
Continuing from the comments last month, it really has been an odd season in Japan.
Considering some of the very low snowfall numbers from many ski resorts to our south – and an agonisingly bad season for parts of western Japan – we have done relatively well, and we should be thankful for that.
And while it is not classic by any means, we have had days of excellent conditions and many visitors I have met have enjoyed themselves.
Then the coronavirus story appeared and over the last month or so has become louder and louder. Unfortunately, it has started to have a real effect on tourism and everyone involved. I don’t want to get into the gloom of all that, rather say that all we can do is hope that yhr situation clears quickly without there being too much further damage.
And of course, the current season is not over yet of course. Here’s how much snow I have observed over the month of March in previous seasons:
March 2019: 45cm
March 2018: 49cm
March 2017: 83cm
March 2016: 109cm
March 2015: 139cm
March 2014: 113cm
March 2013: 164cm
From 1st March 2019 until the end of that season: 51cm
From 1st March 2018 until the end of that season: 62cm
From 1st March 2017 until the end of that season: 83cm
From 1st March 2016 until the end of that season: 115cm
From 1st March 2015 until the end of that season: 142cm
From 1st March 2014 until the end of that season: 126cm
From 1st March 2013 until the end of that season: 198cm
That trend over recent years isn’t very encouraging, but we should be getting more snow. How much, we'll just have to wait and see.
Here is what the Japan Meteorological Agency have reported from their observation station in Kutchan town for the month of February over the last eight years:
February 2020: 158cm
February 2019: 141cm
February 2018: 202cm
February 2017: 173cm
February 2016: 210cm
February 2015: 167cm
February 2014: 130cm
February 2013: 228cm
And these are the JMA numbers for the season so far up until the end of January 2020:
2019/2020 season up to end of February 2020: 609cm
2018/2019 season up to end of February 2019: 808cm
2017/2018 season up to end of February 2018: 954cm
2016/2017 season up to end of February 2017: 741cm
2015/2016 season up to end of February 2016: 698cm
2014/2015 season up to end of February 2015: 825cm
2013/2014 season up to end of February 2014: 804cm
2012/2013 season up to end of February 2013: 900cm
That’s about it from me today.
Stay positive, stay healthy and let’s skiing!
Next monthly recap in early April.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base: -１°, 5cm new snow in last 12hrs. Moiwa 800m: NE 33 deg 1.6m/s, -3.8°, cloudy. Annupuri 1100m: N 10deg 5.0m/s, -6.8°. Yu no Sawa 1000m: NE 46deg 5.1m/s, -6.4°. Niseko Village 900m: NNE 21deg 0.2m/s, -5.2°. Hirafu 1000m :N 5deg 5.1m/s, -6.3°. Hanazono 720m: N 345deg 2.4m/s, -4.1°. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: light winds. Kamui Cape light winds, 1021hPa, wave 0.8m.
Winds are calm and there has been a small amount of new snow. From data and observation there is no obvious avalanche risk. All gates are expected to be open. The poor visibility above 600m continues due to fog. Take care going fast, hitting trees. The snow doesn't seem sun affected, but there is only a little new snow. The weather is calm this morning but watch for a sudden change. Have a good day.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 295cm
- Base: 120cm
All lifts are normally operating EXCEPT:
- Ace Number 1 pair lift (normally rested)
- King Number 2 quad lift (normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Ace Family quad until 8:30pm
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad until 8:20pm
- Hirafu Gondola until 8:10pm
- Holiday Number 1 pair until 8:30pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 210cm
- Base: 130cm
All lifts are normally operating
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 180cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts are normally operating
Lift scheduled for late operations:
- Jumbo Number 1 quad until 8:30pm
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 190cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts normally operating EXCEPT:
- Country Road Chair (normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Annupuri Village Gondola until 8:00pm
- Village Express until 8:00pm
- Banzai Chair until 8:00pm
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Tuesday 3rd March 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 669cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 72 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 33cm (21st January) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 207cm reported on 21 days January 2020 snowfall 224cm reported on 20 days February 2020 snowfall 143cm reported on 19 days March 2020 snowfall 10cm reported on 2 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.