Niseko Now: Thursday 8th February 2024
- Feb 8, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 750cm
Posted on Thursday 8th February 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Just a little snowfall to report to you this morning (slightly over 1cm) and this morning is starting overcast with light snow falling. Visibility seems fair to good. I was outside just a short while ago and it didn't feel quite as cold, though it's still well under zero.
As I am tying this, it seems like the sun is trying to break through the cloud. That might well be just be a one-off.
I believe at the moment and next week there will be many people visiting to celebrate the Chinese New Year... welcome! That, along with the fact that it is peak season and also that Monday is a national holiday in Japan, means that it will no doubt be a very busy weekend.
Fresh snow to fill in tracks would be great, but it might be later on Saturday before we receive track-filling numbers.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -5℃, 2cm snowfall and calm. Moiwa 800m: -9.8℃, WNW2.7m/s, 3cm snowfall, good visibility. Mikaeri 764m: -9℃, 3cm snowfall, good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -10.6℃, W4.2m/s. Village 1000m: -9.4℃, WSW4.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono1000m: -9.8℃, SSE2.1m/s, light snowfall, good visibility. Hanazono#3: -7.1℃, SSW0.8m/s, calm. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW10m/s, Kamui cape SW13m/s, 1012hPa, 0.8m waves.
The isobars are widespread, it is calm in the mountains. Light snowfall overnight but not enough for full reset. Snow remains good on the slopes above 700m elevation as the strong cold air is over the mountains though the sea water is warm in the Japan sea up to Mamiya channel. All the gates will be open. Please listen to the ski patrol’s instructions and always be prepared when you go outside the gates. Area outside the gates is not the resort. Niseko opens/closes gates based on the weather data and observations of the morning. Please respect and understand the Niseko rules. Do not ignore the rules and ride in the strictly off-limit areas. We do understand that’s the only area where the fresh snow is, but please respect the rules and do not ride there. Please remember this is a ski resort and if one person sneaks off, others will follow, and eventually it could lead to an accident that may take someone's life. Yesterday 2 riders were captured in the strictly off limit area-Haruno taki. Groomers are in excellent condition this morning. Beware of falling and crashing into trees. You cannot beat trees. Have a good day.
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Individual ski area information for Thursday 8th February 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: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 130cm (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: ?cm
- Base: ?cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 270cm
- Base: 195cm
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: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (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: 258cm (-10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 172cm (-10cm since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from Morino Chair and Country Road
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
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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 Thursday 8th February 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 750cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 67 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 85cm reported on 8 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.