Yuzawa Now: Sunday 18th December 2016
- Dec 18, 2016
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 106cm
Posted on Sunday 18th December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
Yesterday the snow eased off and it definitely felt milder than it had been. Later on in the day there were spots of rain falling - wet snow in higher places - but let's do our best to try and forget about that.
(The observed snowfall on the report this morning is what fell yesterday post-report).
This morning the sun is out. There's lots of blue sky over Yuzawa, more cloud to the north. Actually it seems a bit more silvery-blue now than it was earlier and the forecast is more for cloud than sun - so perhaps it is gradually going to cloud over today. It is going to be mild too, up to about 7C later on in town according to the forecasts.
In fact, this coming week we can expect some very mild temperatures with the warmest being around Wednesday to Thursday when it might be getting into double digit temperature territory. And rain. Shudder, I don't like the sound of that. After the lovely snow and real mid-winter feel we have enjoyed over the last week or so as well. It would be a crime if conditions were spoiled by it. We can but hope that the actual weather patterns change before we get there.
The longer range forecast does show temperatures dropping as we head to the weekend and signs of snow as well, so fingers crossed for a return to snowy conditions over Christmas.
For now though we have a decent amount of snow on the ground - much better than last year - and places are mostly part open. So it's time to head out and enjoy some skiing.
I'll see you tomorrow.
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Resort-specific info as of Sunday 18th December 2016
GALA Yuzawa
GALA Yuzawa is part open. The Central and North areas are open:
Central Area - Melody, Edelweiss, Entertainment, Gigi, Grenoble courses and the sledging area
North Area - Broadway and Swan courses.
7 courses open in total.
Official snow depth: 130cm
Iwappara
Iwappara is part open.
The Number 2 and Number 3 pair lifts as well as the Chuo and Summit quad lifts are operating.
11 courses open in total.
Official snow depth: 60cm
Joetsu Kokusai
Joetsu Kokusai is part open with 11 lifts operating and 12 courses open.
Official snow depth: 70cm
Kagura
All areas of Kagura are open. The top Kagura Number 5 pair lift and course will open from 1st January 2017.
The resort is reporting 0-5m of fresh snow.
Official snow depth:
Kagura - 150cm
Mitsumata - 110cm
Tashiro - 130cm
Kandatsu Kogen
Kandatsu Kogen is mostly open with three lifts operating.
Official snow depth: 80cm
Naeba
The Prince Number 2 Gondola, Takenokodaira pair, Number 5 high speed lift, Number 3 and Number 4 romance pair lifts are operating.
Official snow depth: 70cm
Maiko Snow Resort
The Gondola and Okusoeji quad and pair lifts are operating as well as the Maiko Center quad lift (on the Maiko side). 9 courses open in total.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 110cm
Base - 40cm
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Hakkaisan is part open.
The Ropeway and Number 1 and 3 romance pair lifts are operating.
Official snow depth:
Top - 150cm
Base - 80cm
Yuzawa Kogen
Yuzawa Kogen is part open.
The Ropeway, Cosmos pair lift, Summit pair lift and Nunoba pair lift are operating.
Official snow depth:
Top - 100cm
Base - 45cm
Yuzawa Park
Yuzawa Park is part open.
Official snow depth: 50cm
Yuzawa Nakazato
Yuzawa Nakazato is part open.
The Number 1 high speed lift, Number 2 and Number 3 romance pair lifts are operating.
Official snow depth: 50cm
Other nearby resorts now at least part open:
Ludens Yuzawa
Muica Snow Resort
Nakazato Snow Wood
Planned opening dates for other resorts in Yuzawa Town and Minamiuonuma City (by date):
Wednesday 21st December:
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Thursday 22nd December:
NASPA Ski Garden
Friday 23rd December:
Chateau Shiozawa
Ipponsugi
Itsukamachi
Saturday 24th December:
Hakkai Sanroku
Mt Granview
Wednesday 28th December:
Ishiuchi Hanaoka
Yuzawa Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Sunday 18th December 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 106cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 10 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 26cm (11th December) November 2016 snowfall 2cm reported on 1 day December 2016 snowfall 104cm reported on 9 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Yuzawa. 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.