Niseko Now: Friday 4th March 2022
- Mar 4, 2022
- 7 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 1072cm
Posted on Friday 4th March 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have a fresh 10cm of snowfall to report to you this morning.
As I write this there is some light snow falling and it is mostly cloudy but there are some breaks in the cloud, especially away from the mountain, and it is quite bright in places. It feels like it might clear up.
More snow is due tomorrow and Sunday.
And now for something completely different...
-----
The 2021-2022 season so far: until the end February 2022
It’s time to take a look back at February, that month with not so many days in it and whizzes by way too quickly every year.
Before I start, I’d like to point out that all of the numbers I mention below – and more - are laid out very nicely in the ‘Snowfall analysis’ page of this report. There’s a link to it above. If you are viewing on mobile, the link is in a drop down menu thingy.
Here are my observed snowfall numbers for the month:
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
So actually, 2022 was a record year!
337cm is the most I have ever observed in February since starting the reports in the 2012-2013 season.
Hurray!
Here are my season-to-date numbers, from the beginning of this season to the end of February 2022:
2021/2022 season up to end of February 2022: 1054cm
2020/2021 season up to end of February 2021: 1122cm
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: 603cm
2015/2016 season up to end of February 2016: 874cm
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
1054cm is not quite a record, but it's up there and very respectable indeed.
In terms of snow, we have done well.
Here is how much of the total snowfall for a season we have already had by the end of February in previous seasons:
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 get this month, here is how much snow I have observed in previous seasons during March:
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: 165cm
As you can see from the list above, in recent seasons we have been getting less snow in March. Take a look at 2013 - that looks good! But we cannot complain, we have had a good snow year. And the people who have been lucky enough to be here have enjoyed those uncharacteristically quiet slopes. Other comments I could make are in line with what I said in my summary last month.
OK, please allow me to do a bit of handholding for those of you who are not used to the new setup.
If you go back up to the links at the top of this report and click on Season archives, you will find lots of other new interesting data.
You can see that I reported snowfall on 25 of the 28 days in February 2022. And for the season so far, I have recorded snowfall on 86 days in total. I used to have to manually count those, but it’s all laid out there now. And this information is available for each season going back to 2012-2013, not only the current season. All you need to do is use the links at the bottom of any page within the Now reports to go to each Season archive page.
If you want to view old Archive reports, there are two main ways to do that (apart from just clicking on Previous or Next links at the bottom of each individual report, of course).
The first way is on the Snowfall analysis page. All of the data going back to 2012-2013 is presented in tables on that page. If you click on any date, you will be taken directly to the report for that day.
The second way is on the Season archives pages. Click on a date on the calendar to go to the report for that day.
It is worth noting that before the 2012-2013 season, the observed snowfall number and weather details were not part of the reports. (They don’t exist - they never existed).
The above also applies to all the other Now report sections on SnowJapan, of course, like Hakabu, Yazawa and Nozowa. :)
Hope that helps!
-----
Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, light winds, 15cm new snow, good visibility. Moiwa 800m: -6.5℃, WNW6.5m/s, 15cm new snow, snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -9.6℃, WNW5.8m/s, 15cm new snow, major snowdrift development, good visibility. Hirafu 1250m: -11℃, strong N winds, snowdrift development, good visibility. Hirafu 1000m: -9.3℃, ESE1.8m/s, 15cm new snow, good visibility. Coastal data- Benkei cape: NW9m/s, Kamui cape: W8m/s, 1013hPa, wave 1.8m.
The isobars are moving further apart and a westerly wind up to 10m/s is blowing on the seas and mountains. Snow drift development due to the low pressure snowfall and accompanied winds eased by midnight, with development reaching 60-80cm depth/150-200cm length above 800m. Slab stabilization is continuing and cornices will still break with little stimulation. From data and observation the general avalanche risk has dropped. All gates are expected to be open. Please follow the patrols advice. Cracks are hidden by the new snow, take care not to fall in. Cornices will collapse instantaneously with little stimulation, especially HigashiOne and Moiwa Bowl. A cornice collapse can trigger avalanches below, use caution. From the snowfall transition the avalanche risk on Annupuri Osawa cornice slopes and Kozan no Sawa sidewalls will be high all day. Do not or take a high traverse at gates 4, 5 or 8 or mindlessly cut knolls or cornices . Soft slabs from low pressure snowfall are prone to surface avalanches from rider stimulus, beware. The snow in the trees is not too deep and skis well. Is your beacon on? have a good day, the snow is wonderful.
-----
Planned ski area operations: Friday 4th March 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 430cm (+10cm)
- Base: 225cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
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
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
-----
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (+10cm)
- Base: 268cm (+13cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 12cm
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]
-----
Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 360cm (no change)
- Base: 250cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- 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
-----
Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm
- Base: 230cm
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 Friday 4th March 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 1072cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 87 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December and 22nd February) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 337cm reported on 25 days March 2022 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.