Niseko Now: Friday 9th December 2016
- Dec 9, 2016
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 147cm
Posted on Friday 9th December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello again and I have another 10cm of fresh snowfall to report to you this morning outside my place here in Hirafu.
It's gradually adding up and I noticed that I have now observed just under 150cm of snowfall here since that first snow of the season.
It's not quite as cold this morning and the snow isn't quite as dry and fluffy (not the stuff I had in my hand a short while ago anyway), but it should still be a fun morning out there.
The forecast is still looking good too with snow lined up most days over the coming week.
It does feel like the season has got started now with everything falling into place, even though what is open in terms of lifts and courses remains limited. With the snow due over the coming days though, I expect that to change quite quickly.
As mentioned at the bottom of my reports, floodlit night skiing ('nighta') is planned to start from tomorrow. Nighta is available at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas - none over at Hanazono. No specific nighta news yet regarding operations from tomorrow, but hopefully I will have more information in my report in the morning.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -2℃, 10cm snowfall in 12 hours, light snow and calm.
Coastal data: Kamui cape ENE7m/s, 1011hPa, 1.0m waves.
Wind and snow are forecasted to pick up above 800m as the next low-pressure system approaches and passes. The snowpack is still very shallow and the out of bounds areas are not suitable for riding yet. The groomers are in better condition, but today’s light is weak and undulations are hard to see. Beware of over speeding.
Looking at the snowfall transition and other data, the general avalanche risk is low today, however cornices formed at steep slopes and under chairlifts could fall anytime, better beware.
Observatory equipment for Nagoya University Snow & Ice Research Center will be installed at Mikaeri area in Moiwa today.
The 20th Niseko Avalanche Meeting will be held at Niseko Chomin Center today at 6pm. Everyone is welcome.
Have a nice day.
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Resort specific opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):
All four resort areas appear to be able to open as planned at the start of the day.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Ace Family pair
- Ace Number 2 Center Four
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
Courses planned to be open:
- Family course
- Alpen course (experts only)
- Green
- Beginners access course
- Shirakaba course
- Center course
- Boyo (lower part only)
- Kokutai (experts only)
- Holiday
- Jumbo course
- Parallel course
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Hanazono 1 quad
- Hanazono 2 quad
- Hanazono 3 quad
Courses planned to be open:
- Silver Dream (experts only)
- Stairway to Heaven (experts only)
- Setsuzoku
- Crystal Garden
- Renraku
- Yotei Sunset (experts only)
Niseko Village
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Community Chair
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
Niseko Annupuri
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Jumbo Number 1 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Annupuri Gondola
Courses planned to be operating:
- Utopia
- Shirakaba
- Paradise
- Junior
You can now ski down to base at Niseko Annupuri.
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Official resort snow depths as of Friday 9th December 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 155cm
Base - 55cm
Niseko Village
Top - 50cm
Base - 40cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 60cm
Base - 40cm
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Friday 9th December 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 147cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 20 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 25cm (25th November) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 37cm 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.