Niseko Now: Thursday 7th March 2024
- Mar 7, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 845cm
Posted on Thursday 7th March 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I feel this is an unexpected surprise, but as I put this report together there are some very nice big flakes of snow falling and coming down at quite the rate too.
Very nice, though it doesn't seem likely to continue... if forecasts are correct.
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Someone cheekily asked if I spend all my free time watching TV - no doubt after all my recent comments about TV reports on inbound tourism (like yesterday).
In that respect, it's a fair question I am happy to answer.
In terms of normal TV (as opposed to streaming or other media), I don't watch much at all, really. I usually have the news on in the early morning as I prepare my coffee and toast, and then again flick through the channels in the evening. There is actually one Japanese TV show that I do enjoy watching, but I will refrain from naming it out of mild embarrassment. I suppose with my limited TV watching, there are probably more of these reports that I probably miss!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -8℃, trace new snow, good visibility. Moiwa800m: -7.8℃, NNW7.3m/s, small snowdrift development. Mikaeri 764m: -8℃, NW0.9m/s, 5cm new snow. Annupuri1100m: -11℃, WNW6.6m/s, small snowdrift development. Village 1000m: -9.7℃, WSW4.5m/s. Hirafu Hanazono1000m: -10.9℃, WSW5.0m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW6m/s, Kamui cape ENE2m/s, 1015hPa, 0.6m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is flat and the weather is calm over the mountains and the sea. Weak snowfall continues as cold air is flowing in. According to observations and tests, snowdrift development is small, the avalanche risk on the slopes under 1000m elevation is low. All the gates are scheduled to open. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Have the beacon with you, it may save you as well as your friends. Outside of the gates are not ski resorts. Do not casually follow someone else to go outside of the gates. Repeat, it is not a ski resort once you step out of the gates. Do not ride simultaneously. Do not traverse across knoll and cornice slopes. Some parts of those slopes are prone to shallow surface slab avalanches. Cracks are slowly formed this year due to low snowfall. However there are signs of cracks so be careful of falling into them and into creeks. Some cracks are caused by geothermal heat. It is dangerous if you fall from head first. Avoid going out of the gates alone. The number of people who do not know the rules is increasing again. Persistently make sure everyone is aware of the Niseko Rules. Do not duck ropes. Do not stay in the gully bottoms at any time. Snow is still good.
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Individual ski area information for Thursday 7th March 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: 5cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 305cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 100cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from King Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad (normal operations)
- The Ace Family quad, Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four), Hirafu Gondola and Holiday Number 1 pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 3cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 257cm (-1cm since yesterday)
- Base: 175cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- The Hanazono Symphony Gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 220cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 231cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm (-3cm since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from Country Road
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Thursday 7th March 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 845cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 84 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 62cm (8th January) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 298cm reported on 24 days February 2024 snowfall 144cm reported on 20 days March 2024 snowfall 36cm 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.