Niseko Now: Friday 5th February 2016
- Feb 5, 2016
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 670cm
Posted on Friday 5th February 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There's another 10cm more fresh on the ground this morning, thank you very much!
That makes my observed total 62cm in the 5 reports so far this month so the great start to the month continues.
There is a lot of cloud around at the moment but good visibility and areas of blue sky also appearing.
There's also more of a wind around this morning and strong westerly winds blowing around higher up according to the resorts (Annupuri reporting a blowy 22m/s) - unfortunately top lifts don't look like they are going to be starting the day as planned. Latest info at time of writing added below, let's hope it calms down.
Some more snowfall is due overnight once again and at times tomorrow too; oh yes, and on Sunday too. If you are looking for some sunshine, Monday is still looking like it will be the main day for you.
Hope you all have a very fine day.
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One rather angry person sent an email yesterday to the SnowJapan folk asking why 'the Niseko reporter is doing his best to get people to go to other areas'. Apparently, that's what he - for it was a he - took from my report yesterday morning.
Huh?!
No, I'm not 'doing my best to get people to go to other areas'.
I'm also actually not 'doing my best to get people to come to Niseko' either.*
I'm simply reporting honest conditions from here in Niseko and at times adding a bit of commentary (for want of a better word). I think lots of people will be interested in how the season is going not only here in Niseko but in Japan in general; and how this season may be different from other seasons... that kind of thing. I give the readers of these reports more credit than just being exclusively interested in Niseko and nothing else.
I do want to perhaps add that I hope that my love of Niseko - and indeed Japan in general - also does come through in these reports. (But that's not me trying to sell anything to anyone).
The person who sent that was probably the same type of person who would prefer that I don't talk about rain if it is raining**, and would prefer if I didn't talk about rubbish snow when the snow is rubbish***.
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* BOOK NOW!
** It never rains in Niseko in winter.
*** Snow is never rubbish in Niseko. (Not even when it's rubbish).
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Resort specific lift opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
The top Ace Number 4 and King Number 4 lifts are on hold at the start of the day due to strong winds.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
For the moment, open as planned.
Niseko Village
The top Wonderland lift are on hold at the start of the day due to strong winds.
Niseko Annupuri
The Gondola and top Jumbo 4 lift are on hold at the start of the day due to strong winds.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -5℃, 10cm snowfall, no snowdrift development. Moiwa 800m: -8℃, NW5m/s, 15cm snow with might snowdrift development. Mikaeri 740m: -8.3℃, SW3m/s. Annupuri 1150m: -13℃, W15m/s. Hirafu peak ridge 1250m: -11℃, 10cm snow and light development of snowdrift. Benkei cape: NW15m/s, Kamui cape: W14m/s, 1011hPa, 1.3m waves.
A NW wind has picked up as the small Low passed, generating snowdrifts on top of Feb 4th pre-low pressure snowfall layer above 900m elevation, making the layer under Feb 4th transform into a hoar layer due to the temperature changes. Thin surface slab slides are to be expected in the Bckbowl sidewalls, below Osawa cornices, Mikaeri bowl and other leeside steep slopes. Peak gates are scheduled to open, please follow the patrol’s instructions. Be careful digging easy pits, they could trigger a slid. Remember to always belay yourself when pit-checking in knolls or steep slopes. The leeside aspects are pretty much reset but the snow is a bit heavy.
Have you turned your beacon on?? Have nice day.
Niseko Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Friday 5th February 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 670cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 52 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (17th January) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 303cm reported on 26 days February 2016 snowfall 62cm 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.