Niseko Now: Monday 9th December 2019
- Dec 9, 2019
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 185cm
Posted on Monday 9th December 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's a beauty of a morning too after the murkier and windier tone of the report yesterday. About 10cm of fresh snow down at base and surely more than that higher up.
Very cold this morning. But lovely clear blue skies and sunshine. An early start should be great today.
Clearer skies are due today and tomorrow too and it should be milder during the day today after this very cold start to today, and certainly more so tomorrow. For the next fresh snowfall we will probably need to wait until later on Wednesday.
Niseko Village have their gondola lift, cunningly called 'Niseko Gondola', moving today and Holiday course at Hirafu is available.
The Avalanche Reports begin from this morning and a very big 'yoroshiku onegai shimasu' to the good people putting them together for all our benefit.
Night time operations (nighta) is planned to begin for the season from Wednesday this week.
All the bits of the puzzle are lining up and clicking into place which is a jolly good thing to be able to report.
OK, I'm off to.... er, wash my hair (or something).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base 6am: -10℃, 2cm snowfall in 12h. Light SW breeze with 5cm snowfall at 700m elevation. Coastal data: Benkei cape SW3m/s, Kamui capeSW11m/s, 1026hPa, 1.7m waves.
The weather is calm under a high-pressure system. The setting up of weather stations is delayed due to the lack of snow and we have minimal data to evaluate the hazard level. So far, the predominant wind direction has been from the SW and we’ve seen large fluctuation of temperature. Cornices and snowdrifts have already developed above 1000m elevation and are not to be stimulated. Accidents occur when conditions align and are not dependant on the amount of snow. The out of bounds area is not suitable for riding yet. Do not step out of bounds to seek fresh snow.
The groomers condition is good. Visibility is good today, beautiful conditions for carving, however always be cautious not to overspeed. Remain in control and be precautious and most accidents can be avoided.
We hope for an accident-free, great season to everybody.
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Ski resort operation information: Monday 9th December 2019
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Subject to change!
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 150cm
- Base: 70cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
Courses available:
- Family
- Sennoki
- Alpen (part)
- Detour for beginners
- Green (part)
- Shirakaba
- Center
- Boyo
- Kokutai (part)
- Holiday
- Jumbo
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 95cm
- Base: 50cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 90cm
- Base: 75cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
Courses available (*when planned lifts operating) :
- Utopia Course
- Shirakaba Course
- Paradise Course
- Junior Course
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 90cm
- Base: 60cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resort areas from Wednesday 11th December 2019. There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO resort area.
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Monday 9th December 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 185cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 17 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (6th December) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 100cm 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.