Niseko Now: Thursday 6th January 2022
- Jan 6, 2022
- 7 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 468cm
Posted on Thursday 6th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning to you from Niseko.
Well, early this morning there's a few different pictures. There is blue sky in some directions along with the sun, and there has been some light snow falling in others (Hanazono). It feels like the brighter picture is winning at the moment. Even if we don't get much snow during the day today, some more looks due to be falling later tomorrow and Saturday - though probably nothing major.
I am happy to report that it's not windy this morning (hurray!) and so expect all lifts to be moving as planned.
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The 2021-2022 season so far: until the end December 2021
I’m finding it hard to believe that it is already January, but here we are.
Unfortunately, many of you reading my reports this year will once again not actually be able to be here in Niseko due to you-know-what, and I truly feel for you. Everyone was so hoping that things would be different. But now we need to just start hoping that things will be different in time for 2022-2023. The emergence of this new variant, currently starting to make itself known in Japan too, is... annoying. Please let this be over soon.
In the meantime, the ski season goes on and I will continue to tell you about it.
As is the tradition, I need to start this recap by reminding everyone of a few things. My observed measurements come to you from close to the base of Niseko Grand Hirafu. ‘At base’ is the way all of the Now reports on SnowJapan are done. It’s a good job really, because due to me not living at the top of the mountain I would be unable to make consistent measurements from the same place every day up there.
The observed snowfall numbers that I report on these Niseko Now reports over the years can be compared like-for-like, because they are my observations, and they are coming from the same place each season.
OK so to the numbers.
This is how much snowfall I have measured during the month of December over the last nine years:
December 2021: 307cm
December 2020: 348cm
December 2019: 207cm
December 2018: 333cm
December 2017: 406cm
December 2016: 181cm
December 2015: 244cm
December 2014: 519cm
December 2013: 275cm
December 2012: 418cm
That works out as being just under the average number over the last 10 seasons. Once the snow started properly, it has been very consistent. In fact, the last day that I wasn’t able to report any snowfall at base was on 15th December - there has been snowfall every day since then.
If you remember the first half of December was pretty uneventful and there wasn’t a whole lot of snow falling. The season definitely took a while to get going this time around and then it was as if the taps were turned on in the second half of the month.
Here’s how much snow I have observed as falling up until the end of December in each of the seasons:
2021/2022 season up to end of December 2020: 392cm
2020/2021 season up to end of December 2020: 410cm
2019/2020 season up to end of December 2019: 292cm
2018/2019 season up to end of December 2018: 417cm
2017/2018 season up to end of December 2017: 594cm
2016/2017 season up to end of December 2016: 293cm
2015/2016 season up to end of December 2015: 308cm
2014/2015 season up to end of December 2014: 549cm
2013/2014 season up to end of December 2013: 398cm
2012/2013 season up to end of December 2012: 536cm
Again, that is just under the average over the last 10 years, and a little under last season.
That’s pretty good going I think, especially considering that the bulk of it came in the second half of December. (Not to forget the snowfall we got in the last week of November, followed by a few weeks of no snow for the most part).
Here is how much of the total snowfall for the whole season we have already had fallen on us by the end of December in previous seasons:
By the end of December 2020, as a % of the season total: about 34%
By the end of December 2019, as a % of the season total: about 40%
By the end of December 2018, as a % of the season total: about 44%
By the end of December 2017, as a % of the season total: about 47%
By the end of December 2016, as a % of the season total: about 43%
By the end of December 2015, as a % of the season total: about 31%
By the end of December 2014, as a % of the season total: about 48%
By the end of December 2013, as a % of the season total: about 34%
By the end of December 2012, as a % of the season total: about 36%
So in recent years by the end of December we have received between 31% and 48% of the total for the season.
As for the month of January, here’s how much snowfall I have recorded during the month of January. (The numbers in brackets show the total observed snowfall up until the end of January in each of those respective seasons).
January 2021: 387cm (797cm)
January 2020: 224cm (516cm)
January 2019: 285cm (702cm)
January 2018: 305cm (899cm)
January 2017: 152cm (445cm)
January 2016: 303cm (611cm)
January 2015: 257cm (806cm)
January 2014: 461cm (859cm)
January 2013: 443cm (979cm)
All being well, I think we can look forward to a lot more snow!
Regular and consistent with periods of sun (but cold temperatures) right through until the end of March, please.
Next monthly recap in early February.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -8℃, 5cm snowfall, calm. Moiwa800m: -10℃, light breeze, 15cm snowfall with some cornice/snowdrifts. Annupuri1100: -11℃, 10cm snowfall, crystal snow without wind. Hirafu ridge: -13℃, 40cm snow on the ridge and skavla development (packed wind ripples). Kamui cape NNW5m/s, 1024hPa, 0.8m waves.
The ocean and the mountain weather is calm under a high pressure system. Snowdrift developments are found in the Higashi-One area due to northerly wind. Crests and wind ripples are covering the surface. Gate 11 (waterfall) is scheduled to open today. Listen to the ski patrol’s instructions before stepping out of the gates. Cracks are starting to form in SW aspects slopes below 1000m elevation. A notable granular snow layer is present near the ground surface this winter and hazard of glide (full-depth) avalanches is to be considered sasa-bamboo covered steep slopes such as Chisenupuri and Naganuma area. Glide avalanches can happen in deep winter too. Cracks are hardly noticeable from above, please be careful not to fall.
The overall avalanche risk is lowering, however the hazard of large scale avalanches from Jan 2nd layer is still present in the Backbowl sidewall (Kozan no sawa) and Higashi-One cornice slopes. It is highly recommended to avoid those spots for now. Better not be fooled by the surface’s light snow. Please be cautious. There are no accidents that cannot be avoided. Precaution will keep you out of hazards. Please carry a beacon, shovel and a probe. Have a nice day.
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Planned ski area operations: Thursday 6th 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: 295cm (+5cm)
- Base: 150cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
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
Planned open courses:
- All courses open
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (+10cm)
- Base: 180cm (+8cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
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: 220cm (no change)
- Base: 150cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
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 open
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm +10cm
- Base: 140cm no change
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
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 Thursday 6th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 468cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 35 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 76cm 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.