Niseko Now: Thursday 8th January 2015
- Jan 8, 2015
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 652cm
Posted on Thursday 8th January 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It was a wild day yesterday. I wonder what today has in store.
Very strong winds were messing about with everything yesterday - and not just on the slopes. There was only a limited choice for people who felt the need to be out in it!
Initial impression is that today is going to be better... still windy, but not as mad as yesterday.
There's new snow as well but I'm having real difficulty putting a number on it due to all that wind blowing it about everywhere. 10cm, 20cm, 30cm... one of them! Even the Niseko Avalanche Report below seems to be shying away from actual numbers this morning with lots of mention of snowdrifts. OK as I need to post a number and taking a look outside my place the number I'm going for is around 20cm, I think that is fair. No doubt more higher up of course, I am hearing from a resort guy of 30cm on upper areas. If you're in Niseko reading this you might well have a different take. I might update that later after a bit more time outside.
Forecast is for snowfall to continue into next week - if it stops it won't be far away from starting up again.
Refresh. Nice. But... less wind please!
Take care out there. Safety first, remember.
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Resort specific news at time of writing - subject to change during the day
Niseko Grand Hirafu:
King Number 3 Triple, King Number 4, Ace Number 3 and Swinging Monkey lifts on hold due to wind. Hirafu Gondola is moving.
'Early Morning' lift available from 10th January to 1st February (for 500 yen, you can ride Ace Quad Number 2 lift from 8am until 8:20am).
Niseko Hanazono:
Hanazono Number 2 and Number 3 lifts on hold.
Niseko Village:
Looks like all planned lifts are moving, or will be.
Niseko Annupuri:
Top Jumbo Number 4 lift suspended due to wind but other lifts plan to be moving.
'Annupuri First Run' available on 11th and 12th January (for 1000 yen, you can ride the Gondola from 7:20-8:20am).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -5C, large development of packed snowdrifts. Moiwa 800m: NE12m/s, -7C, large developments of snowdrifts. Annupuri 1150m: -7C, NW15m/s and developing snowdirfts. Hirafu 1000m: NE10m/s, -7C, developing snowdrifts. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNE12m/s, Kamui cape NNE12m/s, 1002hPa, 5.8m waves.
The strong wind and heavy snowfall generated large development of snowdrifts in and out of bounds. The estimated accumulation of snowdrifts in leeward slopes around 800m altitude grew above 200cm. The rapidly developed snowdrifts are heavy and extremely unstable, easily collapsing with a slight stimulation. The avalanche hazard is extremely high today. Hazardous condition is seen to persist until tomorrow even after the wind calms down. Do not carelessly drop into knolls, cornice slopes or other steep faces. Better not underestimate the danger of avalanches. The snowpack will stabilize soon.
A thick layer of heavy and packed highly wind-affected snow is blanketing the treeruns. This type of snow is catchy and tricky to ski. Be careful and remain in control. It is not sufficient to just observe the snowpack to evaluate the risks, especially during a storm. More attention should be paid to the snowfall & weather transition. Keep in mind that a lot of the avalanche accidents occur during and just after storms. Have a nice day.
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Official snow depth numbers and any notes at time of writing:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 320cm
Base - 145cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 240cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 220cm
Base - 160cm
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Lifts open for night skiing (planned):
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Ace Family Pair lift, Ace Number 2 Center Four lift, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Number 1 Pair lift
(There is no night skiing at the Hanazono area)
Niseko Village
Community Chair and Banzai Chair
Niseko Annupuri
Jumbo Number 1 Quad
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Thursday 8th January 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 652cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 37 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (15th and 26th December) November 2014 snowfall 30cm reported on 5 days December 2014 snowfall 519cm reported on 25 days January 2015 snowfall 103cm 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.