Niseko Now: Friday 3rd March 2023
- Mar 3, 2023
- 7 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 983cm
Posted on Friday 3rd March 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I have fresh snow to report this morning. 9cm of it at 8:20am, and it is snowing still this morning. It feels colder too.
Actually, when I started putting this report together it was only snowing lightly, but as we approach 8:30am it is snowing quite heavily.
While it's not a full reset (yet?), it should be nice to get out on a fluffy surface. And we should probably enjoy it while we can, as we shouldn't expect much (any?) snow over the coming week. Once this current snow stops, of course!
-----
A look back at the season so far: until the end of February 2023
February always seems to whizz by quickly and this year was no exception. So here we are in March already, with lots of talk of ‘spring’.
I will begin with my observed snowfall numbers. Please remember, these numbers are observed by me, close to the base of Hirafu, and there is often more snowfall at higher elevations. (Alas, I do not live at the top of the mountain, so the base is where I can consistently report to you from every morning).
This season so far, up to and including 28th February 2023, I have observed snowfall on 84 days:
5 days in November 2022
27 days in December 2022
27 days in January 2023
25 days in February 2023
The most reported snowfall on any one day remains 24cm.
So, the daily haul has not provided us with any massive numbers this season, but certainly consistent ones. And one could argue that consistent numbers are the best kind – especially in a place as popular as Niseko, where things can get tracked out quickly.
As always, this data and more, updated daily with each report, can be found on the Season archive page here:
2022-2023 season (data from this season)
This is how much snowfall I have measured during February over the last eleven seasons:
February 2023: 289cm
February 2022: 337cm
February 2021: 325cm
February 2020: 143cm
February 2019: 198cm
February 2018: 299cm
February 2017: 160cm
February 2016: 266cm
February 2015: 196cm
February 2014: 178cm
February 2013: 316cm
Again, I feel that consistency is the main thing that comes across looking at those numbers.
Here's how much snowfall I have observed up until the end of February in each of the seasons:
2022/2023 season up to the end of February 2023: 974cm
2021/2022 season up to the end of February 2022: 1054cm
2020/2021 season up to the end of February 2021: 1122cm
2019/2020 season up to the end of February 2020: 659cm
2018/2019 season up to the end of February 2019: 900cm
2017/2018 season up to the end of February 2018: 1198cm
2016/2017 season up to the end of February 2017: 603cm
2015/2016 season up to the end of February 2016: 874cm
2014/2015 season up to the end of February 2015: 1002cm
2013/2014 season up to the end of February 2014: 1037cm
2012/2013 season up to the end of February 2013: 1295cm
Here is how much of the total snowfall for the whole season we have already had fallen on us by the end of February in previous seasons:
By the end of February 2022, as a % of the season total: about 93%
By the end of February 2021, as a % of the season total: about 93%
By the end of February 2020, as a % of the season total: about 91%
By the end of February 2019, as a % of the season total: about 95%
By the end of February 2018, as a % of the season total: about 95%
By the end of February 2017, as a % of the season total: about 88%
By the end of February 2016, as a % of the season total: about 88%
By the end of February 2015, as a % of the season total: about 88%
By the end of February 2014, as a % of the season total: about 89%
By the end of February 2013, as a % of the season total: about 87%
Looking forward to what we might expect in March, here's how much snowfall I have recorded during previous seasons.
March 2022: 81cm
March 2021: 79cm
March 2020: 59cm
March 2019: 45cm
March 2018: 49cm
March 2017: 83cm
March 2016: 109cm
March 2015: 139cm
March 2014: 113cm
March 2013: 164 cm
Last March, that 81cm of snowfall was reported over 14 days.
And the last 2cm of snowfall of the 22/23 season was on 8th April 2022.
So, smart strategy moving forward is probably not to expect much, and be nicely surprised if/when we do get fresh snow. That's what I'm going with, anyway.
This data, also updated daily with each report, is also available in detail on the Snowfall analysis page here:
Snowfall analysis (graphs and charts and stuff)
So, yes, we have enjoyed a very consistent season; we are very fortunate. :)
Not all of Japan has been so lucky. I have heard that some ski areas in western Japan have had a very rough season.
It does feel like spring is now pushing its way in. I always look back at the March numbers and have the feeling that March used to be more part of winter rather than spring.
Places seem to have been very busy. Some people still seem quite surprised at just how fast (and the extent to which) the ‘inbound’ market has returned. I don’t think I’m too surprised, though, as people were clearly revved up and ready to come as soon as the borders re-opened.
Unless the world goes off on another mad tangent over the coming months, I would expect next winter season to be very busy indeed. Staff shortages shouldn’t be an issue either...
Hirafu and Annupuri both plan to be open until Sunday 7th May, so we have over 2 months left!
That’s a lot of skiing, snowboarding... and toast.
---------------
Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -5C, lights winds, 3cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -6.1C, WSW4.7m/s. Annupuri 1100m: -8.8C, light winds and snow, 3cm new snow. Mizuno no Sawa: -7.6C, WNW4.1m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -8.7C, NNE1.7m/s. Hanazono#3: -5.3C, WSW2.0m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NW12m/s, Kamui Cape WSW8m/s, 1017hPa, 1.5m waves.
The isobars are moving further apart and cold air continues to flow in. A 10m/s westerly is blowing on the seas and mountains with only minor cornice development. From observation and data the general avalanche risk is low. Peak gates are expected to be ope. Please listen to the patrols advice. When going out of bounds you must use the gates, don't duck the ropes. Watch out for obstacles like a hard crust, rough wind crust and hidden tree bombs under the fresh snow. Maybe its safer to keep the speed down today. As the temperature is increasing the chance of an easy block collapse avalanche on south facing cracked slopes is increasing. Do not enter strictly off limits Haru no Taki and Yu no Sawa. An accident is always possible in these uncontrolled gullies. Also in the larger valleys like Backbowl and Osawa, large, 10m deep, difficult to predict, 10 year event avalanches occur in the spring. If you stay out of the valley bottoms your less likely to get caught in one. The snow has started to fall again. Have a good day
---------------
Ski area information for Friday 3rd March 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: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 385cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 165cm (+5cm 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
-------
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 8cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 310cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 245cm (+3cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
-------
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: 270cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 210cm (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
-------
Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 245cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 225cm (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
-------
Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Friday 3rd March 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 983cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 85 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (27th & 28th January, 6th February) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 332cm reported on 27 days February 2023 snowfall 289cm reported on 25 days March 2023 snowfall 9cm reported on 1 day |
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.