Niseko Now: Wednesday 5th February 2014
- Feb 5, 2014
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 898cm
Posted on Wednesday 5th February 2014 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Yesterday was a great day. Beautiful blue skies, just a few clouds, calm. Lots of goods on offer as well due to the wind of the previous few days keeping lifts closed. Nice.
Just a few cm of new snowfall to report this morning in Hirafu and a cold -11 degrees.
After the clearness of yesterday, we are back to snow and limited visibility this morning and it is snowing again. It was actually much clearer just earlier on this morning, so it just shows how quickly conditions can and do change.
Snowfall forecast for the next few days and it will remain cold. Wrap up well!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -11C, Trace new snow crystals in last 12 hrs. Moiwa 800m: -13C, calm, no significant snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -16C, wind N10m/s. Hirafu 1000m: -16C, some snowdrift development, Northerly wind and snow. Annupuri peak 1308m: -17.4C, wind NNW11.1m/s. Cape Benkei: NNE10m/s, Cape Kamui: wind N7m/s, wave 0.8m, pressure 1008hPa.
From this mornings observations shallow snowdrifts around 1000m East Ridge (HigashiOne) are likely to slide. There has been little snow in the last 12hrs and the surface is not reset, but snow is good. The avalanche risk will increase though the afternoon with the expected increase in wind and snow. 1-2nd Feb frost layer will become notable in snowpack, note the future snowfall transition. Avalanches often occur in windy and snowy conditions. Snow conditions change everyday, snowdrifts develop rapidly on leeward slopes in strong winds and can easily collapse high above you on the mountain. A slope that was good yesterday isn’t necessarily good today. Gate openings yet to be decided. Please follow the patrols advice. Enter the mountains with caution, a few small mistakes and overconfidence is the cause of many accidents. Have a good day, beware frostbite.
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Official snow depth numbers and lift news at time of writing:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 370cm
Base - 190cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 345cm
Base - 230cm
Annupuri:
Top - 285cm
Base - 210cm
Niseko Now 2013-2014 season |
Data as of Wednesday 5th February 2014 Total snowfall at base so far 898cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 65 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (14th January) November 2013 snowfall 123cm reported on 9 days December 2013 snowfall 275cm reported on 22 days January 2014 snowfall 461cm reported on 29 days February 2014 snowfall 39cm reported on 5 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.