Niseko Now: Friday 4th January 2013
- Jan 4, 2013
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 601cm
Weather overview Cloud, light snow
Wind
OK
Temperature -10C base / -16C top
Visibility Fair
Posted at 9:40am on Friday 4th January 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's a cold start to the day this morning, around -11C earlier on and outside it says -10C now. Expect temperatures down to -16C or even -18C as Annupuri are reporting this morning on upper areas of the mountain.
Yesterday the winds messed around with lift operations on the mountain. Some lifts were open and closed a few times during the day. For example the King 4 and Ace 4 lifts at Niseko Grand Hirafu opened mid-morning but then closed again before noon due to the persistent winds. The Hirafu Gondola closed around 12:30pm only to open again an hour or so later - apparently 'mechanical adjustment' being the reason, not the need for a lunch break!
This morning is much calmer in Niseko. The winds have eased off and just light snow is falling now allowing most lifts on the mountain to be moving as normal. Top lifts all operating this morning. There's still a moderate wind at times over on the Annupuri and Niseko Village areas, less so on the Grand Hirafu and Hanazono side.
Visibility fair, poor in places as the mountain is covered in cloud, but much better out there without the wind. Should be some fine dry powder to find as well, though I doubt you'll need to go searching...
The forecast is for maybe not so cold conditions tomorrow and an easing off of the snow clouds for a bit before returning in time for Sunday. It looks like in the coming week the snow is never going to be far away. Just how we like it, with perhaps a bit of sun every now and again for some bluebird photo opps.
I forgot to mention in yesterdays report what the JMA snowfall 'target' for January 2013 is. Last season (January 2012) there was 290cm of snowfall in Kutchan town, and 420cm in January 2011. The 2011 number sounds like a good one to try and hope for, don't you think?!
Niseko Now 2012-2013 season |
Data as of Friday 4th January 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 601cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 42 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (10th, 11th, 19th December) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 65cm reported on 4 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.