Niseko Now: Sunday 8th December 2024
- Dec 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 18cm
Snowfall at base this season 114cm
Posted on Sunday 8th December 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I have another almost 20cm of snowfall to report to you this morning. This steady 'daily incoming' of fluffy goodness is very pleasing.
We might well get smaller numbers over the next few days, and perhaps even some clearer skies at times (particularly Tuesday?), to be followed by more snow from the second half of the week.
The gondola over at Annupuri is making a season debut this morning as the mountain gradually opens up with a few more runs becoming available.
We still want and need more snow, of course!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 7am: -5℃, 20cm snowfall in 12h, minimal wind influence. Moiwa 800m: -9.1℃, NNW15m/s, light wind load. Hanazono 1000m: -10.9℃, wind 4.2m/s (direction n/a). Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW15m/s, Kamui cape NW11m/s, 1007hPa, 1.9m waves. Other locations to be set.
Winter pressure distribution remains, cold air is flowing in and moderate wind and snowfall developing snowdrifts are persisting. The wind-load slabs are forming up slowly and stabilizing as they do. Looking at this morning’s weather data and observations, the general avalanche risk is low except at 1200m leeward slopes under cornices. The snow is fantastic, proper Japow condition as would late Colin Hackworth say. Perfect density and easy to ride. Beware of tree stumps and bushes lurking under the surface. The snowpack is still shallow and the off-piste is closed. Please respect the Niseko Rules. Sunlight is weak and the slopes undulations are hard to see. Beware of overspeeding and hitting trees. One injury could ruin your season. Niseko is always concerned about everyone’s safety. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Sunday 8th December 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.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 22cm
Base: 28cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 110cm (+12cm change since yesterday)
Base: 75cm (0cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All four lifts are now operating
Courses:
Juicy Fruit
Yotei Sunset
Parallel
Mango Salad
Silver Dream
Crystal Garden
Stairway to Heaven
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 30cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 140cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 65cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
Ace Family quad
Ace Gondola
King Gondola
King Holiday pair
King Number 3 quad
Swinging Monkey
Courses:
Family
Sennoki
Alpen
King area access
Beginners access
Green
Kogen
Boyo
Dai-no-kabe
Kokutai
Holiday
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 50cm
Base: 30cm
Lifts:
Upper Village Gondola
Village Express
Community Chair
Banzai Chair
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 65cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 60cm (+30cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
Annupuri Gondola
Dream Number 1 quad
Jumbo Number 1 quad
Courses:
Utopia
Shirakaba
Paradise
Family
Junior
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
Number 1 pair lift
Number 2 pair lift
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned from Saturday 14th December 2024 until Wednesday 23rd March 2025.
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Sunday 8th December 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 114cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 14 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 18cm (5th and 8th December) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 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.