Niseko Now: Friday 9th January 2015
- Jan 9, 2015
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 655cm
Posted on Friday 9th January 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There's just a few cm of fresh outside my place this morning, though as you can see on the Avalanche Report the resort areas are coming back with larger amounts of fresh out there. The forecast is for continued light snowfall from time to time through the day today and yes, well, snow clouds still likely to be closeby through into early next week.
Happily there is less wind now and it doesn't feel as cold this morning.
Resorts look set to be opening as normal from the get go this morning. That's the message coming in as I am writing this anyway.
Look at all those folk lining up for the Ace Number 2 Center Four lift to open (image below). Go on, give us a wave! (I'm only jealous).
There are early morning special lift openings this weekend at Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri - details of which I have put in the area below for each resort. Each of them starts at a different time and have different extra charges for the privilege. I think they call this a 'premium service'. Anyway, it's there if you want to take advantage of it. Let's choosing.
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Resort specific news at time of writing - subject to change during the day
Niseko Grand Hirafu:
Looks set to be open as normal this morning.
'Early Morning' lift available from 10th January to 1st February (for 500 yen, you can ride Ace Quad Number 2 lift from 8:00am until 8:20am).
Niseko Hanazono:
Looks set to be open as normal this morning.
Niseko Village:
Looks set to be open as normal this morning.
Early morning Gondola on 11th, 12th and 13th January (for 1030 yen, you can ride the Gondola from 7:30am-8:30am)
Niseko Annupuri:
Looks set to be open as normal this morning.
'Annupuri First Run' available on 11th and 12th January (for 1000 yen, you can ride the Gondola from 7:20-8:20am).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Niseko base 6am: -3C, 15cm snowfall in 12 hours. Moiwa 600m: W10m/s, moderate development of snowdrifts. Annupuri 1150m: NW12m/s, -6C, 20cm snowfall. Hirafu 1000m: -8C, 20cm snowfall, snowy and windy with development of snowdrifts. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNE11m/s, Kamui cape NNE7m/s, 1007hPa, 3.2m waves.
The wind is stagnating around 12m/s northerly and continually making the snowdrifts develop. These newly formed snowdrifts in the last 48 hours are starting to stabilize, however the avalanche risk around 1000m Osawa (annupuri bowl) cornice slopes, Kozan no Sawa (Backbowl) sidewalls and Higashi-One cornice slopes remains high today. A slide triggered from a thick snowdrift area would lead to a larger avalanche running fast and a long distance. Caution is required in open steep slopes and gullies. Accidents can be avoided by being prudent. Gates 2, 3 & 4 will be closed all day. Do not duck ropes to access the out of bounds areas. Strictly off-limits areas of Haru no Taki and Yu no Sawa must be left untouched. The snow in the tree is fast and in good condition. Beware of hitting trees. Moiwa gates 6 & 10 will be closed due to chair-lift maintenance. Have a nice day.
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Official snow depth numbers:
Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 310cm
Base - 140cm
Niseko Village:
Top - 240cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 225cm
Base - 160cm
Niseko Now 2014-2015 season |
Data as of Friday 9th January 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 655cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 38 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 106cm reported on 8 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.