Niseko Now: Wednesday 8th March 2017
- Mar 8, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 26cm
Snowfall at base this season 639cm
Posted on Wednesday 8th March 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
And a good morning to you all!
And it most certainly is a very good morning. It feels like a long time since I have reported over 20cm in one report, but happily today is one of those days.
26cm since my last report.
Really nice quality snow too. Oh yes!
It is surely going to be a great day, and the lines of people waiting for early lifts on this March morning show how excited we all are.
Actually right now there's some blue sky appearing through the clouds, and the sun is shining through in places, casting big shadows in others. Changeable conditions early on, will be interesting to see if we get any more today...
Anyway, I hope you can be here to enjoy this! Have fun and take care.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base: -10℃, 20cm snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -12℃, 20cm snowfall with snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -14℃, W8m/s, 40cm snowfall with snowdrifts. Hirafu 1250m: -12℃, 20cm snowfall with snowdrifts. Kamui cape lighthouse: SW5m/s, 997hPa, 1.3m waves. Benkei cape: W7m/s.
The wind is calming down but snowdrifts are still slowly developing. 30cm of good snow can be found below treeline. Snowdrifts are growing, however no notable layer activities has been observed and it seems the general avalanche risk is low. All gates are scheduled to open, please follow the ski patrol’s instructions.
We suggest paying more attention to slabs as a whole rather than just the layers. Layers can be found everywhere anytime. Avalanches occur in slopes with snowdrifts that became slabs. The wind or the sun can affect the cause of these slabs formations. If fissures appear when you run into a snowdrift, it is a red signal, or might even be too late. Fissures instantly transmit through a wide surface and triggers a slide.
Many of the accidents have occurred during or just after storms. Pay good attention to the past weather transition. The snow conditions changes everyday. Better not stay put on a steep slope, ride simultaneously or traverse knoll terrain and under cornices. Epic snow conditions this morning. Have a great day.
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Official resort snow depths as of Wednesday 8th March 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 360cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Village
Top - 315cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 315cm
Base - 140cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Wednesday 8th March 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 639cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 76 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 160cm reported on 19 days March 2017 snowfall 36cm reported on 3 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.