Niseko Now: Monday 9th February 2015
- Feb 9, 2015
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 862cm
Posted on Monday 9th February 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I'm happy to report some fresh snow this morning. I have just got back from Hakodate and so I missed out on most of yesterdays warmth and (apparently) bit of wet as well.
Would like more than the 10cm there is here, and it should be here today. Snow is being blown around though as well so difficult to put one number on it... the Avalanche Report this morning is recording up to 25cm of fresh snowfall.
Right now though there's actually some breaks in the cloud, some blue sky and a bit of sunshine which wasn't quite expected, but the next snow clouds should be over us and delivering pretty quickly. Still hoping/expecting/praying for decent snow to fall over the next 2 days.
It's very cold this morning as well which is good after the warmth of yesterday but alas, I need to mention the wind again as we have top lifts on hold at the start of the day because of them.
Come on Niseko.... deliver, please! If not for me, for all the good folk visiting.
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Resort specific news as of 8:30am - subject to change during the day
Niseko Grand Hirafu:
King Number 4, Ace Number 4 and King 3 lifts on hold due to strong winds.
Niseko Hanazono:
Hanazono Number 3 lift on hold due to strong winds.
Niseko Village:
Niseko Gondola and top Wonderland Chair lifts on hold due to weather conditions.
Niseko Annupuri:
Possibly late start for some lifts.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -6C, moderate storm, 25cm snowfall in 12 hours with snowdrift and cornice developments. Moiwa 800m NW18m/s, -11C, strong wind and snowfall, poor visibility and developed snowdrifts. Annupuri 1000m snowpack 280cm. Hirafu 1000m: -11C, strong wind with developing snowdrifts. Peak 1308m: unmeasurable, -15.8C. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW24m/s, Kamui cape WSW17m/s, 996hPa, 3.2m waves.
A strong storm has made windload/snowdrifts develop in all areas. The newly formed snowdrift slabs reached up to 140cm thickness in some leeward knolls around 800m altitude, sitting on top of warm temperature (Feb 8th) layer. Those slabs are still very unstable and the avalanche hazard in leeward steep slopes is high. According to snowfall transition and observations, possibility of a large-scale avalanche is high in 700m leeward valleys. All gates above 800m will be closed. Avalanche risk is similarly high in all areas around Niseko. The storm is forecasted to continue and the avalanche risk will remain high a while after the wind calm down. Many of the avalanche accidents occur during and just after storms. Better stay away from cornice slopes, knolls and valley bottom even if the chairlifts starts running. The snow will get better soon. Have a safe day.
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Official resort snow depths:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 380cm
Base - 125cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 280cm
Base - 180cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 285cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Monday 9th February 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 862cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 59 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 257cm reported on 23 days February 2015 snowfall 56cm 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.