Niseko Now: Monday 7th February 2022
- Feb 7, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 829cm
Posted on Monday 7th February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have 10cm to report to you this morning since my last report, and it is still snowing now. Early morning has actually seen a few different looks. Earlier on it was actually quite bright; as I started putting together this report it was really snowing quite hard, but has eased off somewhat now.
So here we are back to weekdays, so the Holiday pair at Hirafu and Jumbo 3 at Annupuri are going to be resting. (Those lifts not opening does not close off any courses of course).
This last week or so has seen some very consistent snowfall. I like that 'about 20cm a day' kind of consistency. And there are some fab conditions for those able to be here to enjoy.
I don't think we are expecting a lot of snow this week and we might even get to enjoy a few days of sun.
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I notice that Niigata has had one of it's truly bonkers snow phases - over 100cm yesterday on the Yuzawa Now report! Mad. I'm curious to know how folks down there cope with all that at once.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -7℃, calm, 5cm snowfall in 12h. Moiwa800m: -10℃, WNW8m/s, 10cm snowfall with snowdrifts throughout the area. Annupuri 1150m: -11℃, WNW10m/s, 10cm snowfall, snowdrifts and cornices developing. Hirafu 1250m: -12℃, 10cm snowfall, snowdrifts developing and bad visibility. Coastal data Benkei cape: NW9m/s, Kamui cape: NNW8m/s, 1015hPa, 0.9m waves.
The isobars are spread out but still forming a wintery pressure distribution. The wind still blows at 10m/s, above 800m elevation with intermittent snowfall. Soft slabs are forming in places and cornices are growing slowly. The cornices can rapidly transmit impacts so caution is required around them, however, according to the morning observations, mountain and marine weather transition, the overall avalanche risk is relatively low today. All gates should open in the morning. Listen to the ski patrol’s advice. The new snow is thin, but old tracks are mostly covered and the snow in the tree runs is good. Beware of hidden tree-bombs and cracks.
Many of the avalanche accidents occur during and just after storms. When wind is strong the avalanche risk tends to rise. Paying attention to the weather and snowfall transition is the most realistic avalanche prevention measure. Once the wind calms down, the snowdrifts stabilize, and all winds will eventually stop. There is an Aleutian proverb saying “The wind is not a river”. Rivers always flow, but winds eventually stop. The Aleutians are people who established an outstanding marine hunting culture in the harsh Bering Sea area.
So much snow... have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 7th February 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: 395cm (-5cm)
- Base: 230cm (-10cm)
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
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 350cm (no change)
- Base: 268cm (-7cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 15cm
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: 280cm (+10cm)
- Base: 210cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
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 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 295cm
- Base: 240cm
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
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 Monday 7th February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 829cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 66 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 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 112cm reported on 7 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.