Niseko Now: Sunday 7th January 2024
- Jan 7, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 16cm
Snowfall at base this season 417cm
Posted on Sunday 7th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Up to 8:30am, I measured a respectable 16cm of fresh snowfall and it is still snowing now. Limited visibility out there.
I will hopefully be adding some good consistent snowfall numbers over the next several (or more) days.
That sounds suitably Niseko-y, doesn't it?
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am: -5°, 25cm new snow in last 12hrs, bad visibility. Moiwa 800m: -8.8°, W2.4m/s (max 18m @ 4am). Mikaeri 764m: -6°, westerly wind and heavy snowfall. Hanazono 1000m: -8.6°, ESE2.9m/s (max 20m @ 2am). Hanazono 3 : -6.1°, ESE2.3m/s (max 18m @ 3am). Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NW9m/s. Kamui Cape N8m/s, 1005hPa, wave 1.2m.
Heavy snowfall following the passing of a low pressure system in the early morning, over 5cm/hr. At the 800m treeline light winds and snow continue, cornices and snowdrifts are slowly developing, about 80cm on knolls, slab development is small and stablising, but increasing. However, 900m Backbowl West Ridge cornice face there is a high avalanche risk. Todays snow conditions are different to yesterdays. Do not carelessly stimulate slopes. These conditions will continue throughout the day. Many accidents occur during periods of bad weather. To compound things, today also has bad visibility. Pick a low risk route today. The snow is good in the trees. The bushes have filled in quite a bit, but the creeks still haven't. Be careful not to fall in. Cold. Gate 6 is likely to be opened, please follow the patrol's advice. Someone ducked the rope after gate was closed yesterday, don't do it again. It bothers everyone. have a nice day. I hope no accidents occur.
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Individual ski area information for Sunday 7th January 2024
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 230cm (+20cm since yesterday)
- Base: 100cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 7:00pm)
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 180cm (+13cm since yesterday)
- Base: 125cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (until 7:00pm)
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 7:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 135cm
- Base: 95cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Village Express (until 7:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
- Morino Chair
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 pair
- Quad
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Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Sunday 7th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 417cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 40 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (18th December) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 50cm 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.