Niseko Now: Wednesday 6th January 2021
- Jan 6, 2021
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 12cm
Snowfall at base this season 508cm
Posted on Wednesday 6th January 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
This morning Annupuri is reporting 10cm of fresh snow while Hirafu and Hanazono are reporting around 25cm. I am measuring 12cm to add to my report and the snow continues. As I speak light snow though it has been heavier at times.
We can expect more of the same... snow, limited visibility.
I am pleased to be reporting not much wind again. In some seasons pesky wind has been one of the most annoying part of a Niseko season, but we're not seeing much of that this time round. Well, so far! I like it.
The forecast for the coming week still shows consistent snowfall lined up each day.
All gates should be open.
And I'll see you tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Coastal Data. Cape Benkei:N10m/s. Cape Kamui: W8m/s, 1019hPa, wave 1.1m. Hanazono 1000m: -14.1℃, NNW2.7m/s. Hanazono 720: -12.4℃, ENE0.7m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -14.4, NNW1.9m/s. Mizuno no Sawa 900m: -13.5℃, WNW2.3m/s. Moiwa 800m: -12.0℃, NNW5.8m/s, 20cm new snow in the last 12hrs, slow snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: WNW4.8m/s. Kutchan Town: -11.5℃, ENE1.5m/s, snow depth 141cm, 1019.8hPa. Moiwa base: -12, 15cm snowfall in last 12hrs, light winds, calm, good visibility.
The snow is getting deep in Kutchan. There is very little atmospheric pressure gradient, the sea and mountains are calm. From observation and data the general avalanche risk is low. All gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols advice before going out of bounds. Do not spend time in the valley bottom. Avalanches come from above with surface avalanches travelling at more than 100km/hr. There is no time to escape. Be careful accidentally triggering an avalanche by stimulating a cornice or traversing under one. Ride one by one. Is your beacon turned on? Got your probe and shovel? Helmet on? Looks like a powder paradise out there today. Be safe .
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 6th January 2021
The below information 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: 270cm (0cm)
- Base: 170cm (+10cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All planned lifts operating (see note below)
- Ace Family Quad, Ace Number 2 Center Four open for night skiing
Courses:
- All courses open
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 215cm (+12cm)
- Base: 164cm (+12cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts operating
- No night skiing
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm (+10cm)
- Base: 140cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- All lifts operating during the daytime
- Jumbo Number 1 quad opens for night skiing
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 190cm (+0cm)
- Base: 130cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express [*]
- Community Chair [*]
- Banzai Chair [*]
- Wonderland Chair
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
Lifts marked [*] are scheduled to be operating during night skiing, until 8:00pm.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
The Ace Pair Number 1, 3 and 4, King Pair Number 1 lift and King Quad Number 2 lifts are being rested for the season at Niseko Grand Hirafu.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Wednesday 6th January 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 508cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 37 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 34cm (31st December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 98cm reported on 6 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.