Niseko Now: Tuesday 4th January 2022
- Jan 4, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 13cm
Snowfall at base this season 449cm
Posted on Tuesday 4th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I have just been out to measure 13cm of snow to add to my report this morning. I thought it was going to be more than that, but wind probably is a factor in that. Looks like the ski areas themselves are reporting 10-20cm.
Well, yesterday was a bit of a wild ride (not that I ventured outside much), and thankfully today looks like it should be calmer. It is still snowing - light at the moment but rather heavier just a short while back) and visibility is much improved and it looks like more lifts will be operating. But as of 8:30am, the top lifts and the gondola at Annupuri are on hold because of remaining windy conditions.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -10℃, 15cm snowfall, occasional gusts and low visibility. Moiwa 800m: -13℃, W10m/s, 20cm snowfall, cornices growing and snowdrifts are heavy. Annupuri 1100m: -15℃, 20cm new snow on course and cornices/snowdrifts developments. Hirafu ridge: -20℃, stormy and wind from all directions, no visibility. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW16m/s, Kamui cape: NW13m/s, 1010hPa, 2.1m waves.
A strong storm is persisting above 900m elevation, making snowdrifts and cornices heavily develop. Evaluating on-site observations, snowfall transition and all weather data, there is a risk of large-scale surface slab avalanche from Jan 2nd low-pressure snowfall layer. Better not ride the middle-ridge of O-sawa (Annuouri bowl) even if gate 8 opens. That spot is the site of Japan’s first snowboard deadly avalanche accident and the weather conditions back then was similar to the current conditions.
The wind is calming down but still blowing strong up high. Strong wind creates unstable snow-slabs in leeward slopes and avalanches occur when those slabs break apart. The slabs stabilize as the wind dies down, but caution is still required for today. Beware of frostbites and hypothermia. Have you switched your beacon on? The snow in the trees is good, but stay away from the bottom of steep slopes and gully bottoms. Have a nice day.
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Planned ski area operations: Tuesday 4th 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: 285cm (+5cm)
- Base: 145cm (-10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- 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 (no change)
- Base: 170cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 15cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- 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 (subject to weather conditions):
- 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 (subject to weather conditions):
- 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 Tuesday 4th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 449cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 33 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 57cm 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.