Niseko Now: Tuesday 4th February 2020
- Feb 4, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 534cm
Posted on Tuesday 4th February 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from here near Hirafu base.
Good news this morning with a decent amount of fresh snowfall on the ground. I have measured 15cm of it and it is light, dry and fluffy.... lovely. With probably a bit more than that higher up the mountain I would expect that it will be a good morning. For what its worth, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko HANAZONO are both adding 20cm to their upper snow depth this morning. The other two seem less reluctant to make changes to those numbers.
Varied visibility as of 8:15am with a rather grey palette here in Hirafu and light snow falling, but there's actually some blue sky and sunshine out over in the direction of Mt Yotei.
It doesn't feel too windy down here at base though the resorts are reporting moderate NW on the mountain; lifts are starting the day as planned.
It does feel cold (and Annupuri are reporting -16C at their summit) so I'm going to wrap myself up well before heading out.
Regular snow top-ups remain likely though until the weekend. Yey!
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It's 4th February and that means that the Sapporo Snow Festival official begins today. No doubt lots of people will be scheduling in a visit to the famous festival with their time in Niseko.
Hope you have fun.
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If you were naughty and missed my report and recap yesterday: I do forgive you, but please check it out (link below).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Base: -8°, 20cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: NNW 329deg 10.8m/s(max 4am 20m/s), -11.6°. Yu no Sawa 1000m: NNW 316deg 5.7m/s(max 4am 18m/s). Niseko Village 900m:NW 316deg 5.7m/s(max 12am 15m/s). Hirafu : NNW, (speed:no data) , -14.5°. Hanazono: NNW 321deg 7.1m/s(max 4am 18m/s), -11.9°. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NNW15m/s. Kamui Cape W12m/s, 1019hPa, wave 2.2m. Annupuri 1000m: snow depth 160cm.
20cm of snow fell overnight to dawn as the winter type atmospheric weather pattern strengthened. Around 800m on leeward slopes, snowdrift development has been up to 50cm depth. Wind strengthened to a max of 20m/s at 4am, then dropping to dawn. From observation at 900m snowdrifts are starting to stabilise. However the avalanche risk remains high around 1000m on leeward cornice slopes and knolls, with a fracture face of 50cm on the Feb 3 low pressure snowfall layer or weak layers within snowdrift. Better not get on Kozan no Sawa sidewall or Osawa cornice face today. Strictly off limits area Haru no Taki: avalanche danger is high. Respect Niseko Rules and Do Not Enter.
Snow in the trees is good. Have a fun day and avoid riding steep cornice and knoll slopes. Peak gate opening are undecided. Please listen to the patrols advice. Beacons and helmets are recommended. The Avalanche report will not be issued tomorrow and day after. Avalanche accidents occur when unstable snow fractures. Don't overdo it in the wind and snow. Be cautious and take care. Have a good day.
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Ski resort operation information: Tuesday 4th February 2020
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 250cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts are normally operating EXCEPT:
- Ace Number 1 pair lift (normally rested)
- King Number 2 quad lift (normally rested)
All courses normally open
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: 185cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts are normally operating
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 160cm
- Base: 100cm
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: 185cm
- Base: 100cm
All lifts normally operating EXCEPT:
- Country Road (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 4th February 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 534cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 54 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 18cm 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.