Niseko Now: Sunday 8th March 2020
- Mar 8, 2020
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 687cm
Posted on Sunday 8th March 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have ever so slightly over 4cm of fresh snowfall to report to you this morning. Hurray!
Hopefully that translates into a bit more higher up on the slopes to play in this morning.
Some of that really light snow falling as I have been writing this report but not enough for me to feel comfortable awarding a 'light snow' icon this morning.
All lifts should be moving as planned this morning.
Japan is going to really get into full-on 'spring-mode' tomorrow and Tuesday with some very mild conditions lined up, but the good news is that it will be cooling down again beyond that with the chance of some more snow. Though I wouldn't be holding out for big numbers!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Base: -1°, 5cm new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: SE 140deg 2.2m/s, -2.8°, cloudy. Annupuri 1100m: SE 153deg 2.4m/s, -5.2°. Yu no Sawa 1000m: SW 229deg 2.7m/s, -4.8°. Niseko Village 900m: SSE 167deg 3.1m/s, -4.2°. Hirafu 1000m :S 188deg 6.3m/s, -4.9°. Hanazono 720m: SSW 196deg 6.1m/s, -2.9°. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: S 8m/s. Kamui Cape SSW 13m/s, 1020hPa, wave 0.8m.
We are currently under a high pressure system and the weather is calm. Light snow is falling above 700m and visibility is poor. A strong south west wind is blowing at higher levels. There is no obvious avalanche risk and all gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols advice before leaving the ski resort through the gates. Don't forget your obento. Expect the temperatures to rise during the day and the snow to get heavy. The snow should be good on and off-piste in the morning though. Have a good day.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 320cm
- Base: 120cm
All lifts are normally operating EXCEPT:
- Ace Number 1 pair lift (normally rested)
- King Number 2 quad lift (normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Ace Family quad until 8:30pm
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad until 8:20pm
- Hirafu Gondola until 8:10pm
- Holiday Number 1 pair until 8:30pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 222cm
- Base: 135cm
All lifts are normally operating
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 185cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts are normally operating
Lift scheduled for late operations:
- Jumbo Number 1 quad until 8:30pm
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 190cm
- Base: 110cm
All lifts normally operating EXCEPT:
- Country Road Chair (normally rested)
Lifts scheduled for late operations:
- Annupuri Village Gondola until 8:00pm
- Village Express until 8:00pm
- Banzai Chair until 8:00pm
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Sunday 8th March 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 687cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 75 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 33cm (21st January) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 207cm reported on 21 days January 2020 snowfall 224cm reported on 20 days February 2020 snowfall 143cm reported on 19 days March 2020 snowfall 28cm 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.