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Yuzawa Now: Monday 31st December 2018

  • Dec 31, 2018
  • 5 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata


New snowfall at base 28cm
Snowfall at base this season 255cm

Posted on Monday 31st December 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.


I might well have said this yesterday, so sorry if that is the case but - what an end to the year! This snow just doesn't seem to want to stop falling. It's like it was bursting to get started and the last four days has been a big long release.


I measured another 6cm during the day yesterday and another 22cm overnight. That's at town level, of course. So 28cm to add to my reports - and a total of 164cm over the last 4 reports. Blimey!


Resorts are reporting less than I am measuring:


Kagura - 30cm

Ishiuchi - 20cm

Maiko - 20cm


It's interesting. Once we get decent snowfall, you almost feel that ski resorts tend to 'under-report' actual snowfall. After all, they don't want to scare folk off do they.


Lots of ski hills - especially those catering for families and the like - would actually now prefer the clouds to clear and have some sunshine over the next few days. That would be 'ideal' for the New Year period. Everyone concentrating just on snow though should be very happy with the current situation.


Looks like Kagura is open as normal this morning so there should be some excellent untouched conditions to find up there.


It is still snowing this morning but we are expecting less during the day today and there might be some sunshine tomorrow morning. We might even get some clearer conditions later on today. But don't worry, temperatures should remain low and there is more snow on the forecast from mid week.


Have a fun New Years Eve.


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Thank you again. And Happy New Year!


May 2019 be particularly snowy one.


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Ski resorts in Yuzawa:


GALA Yuzawa

- 230cm (official snow depth)


* The Central and Northern Areas of GALA Yuzawa are open

* All lifts apart from Chariot, Landau Ropeway (to Yuzawa Kogen) and Waggonette are now normally operating

* All of the Central Area is open including the ‘Snow Enjoyment Park’

* The Broadway, Swan and Roman Holiday courses in the Northern Area are open


Iwappara

- 165cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts and courses are now open


Kagura

- Kagura area: 250cm (official snow depth)

- Mitsumata area: 210cm (official snow depth)

- Tashiro area: 230cm (official snow depth)


* All areas and almost all lifts and courses across Kagura are now open

* Downhill course back to Mitsumata Ropeway is now open

* The top Kagura Number 5 romance lift should be open from tomorrow!


Kandatsu Kogen

- 160cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts are now normally operating


Naeba


* Please see our Naeba Now report for daily updates from Naeba


NASPA Ski Garden

- 220cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts and courses are now normally open


Yuzawa Kogen

- Top: 180cm (official snow depth)

- Base: 120cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts and courses are now (normally) open


Yuzawa Park

- 150cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts are now operating


Yuzawa Nakazato

- 135cm


* All lifts are now operating


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Ski resorts in Minamiuonuma - just to the north of Yuzawa:


Ishiuchi Maruyama

- 190cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts are now operating


Joetsu Kokusai

- 180cm


* Joetsu Kokusai is now mostly open


Maiko Snow Resort

- Top: 190cm (official snow depth)

- Base: 130cm (official snow depth)


* All lifts are now operating with most courses open


Muikamachi Hakkaisan

- 180cm (official snow depth)



Yuzawa Now 2018-2019 season

Data as of Monday 31st December 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 255cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 14 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 50cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 2cm reported on 1 day December 2018 snowfall 253cm reported on 13 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.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



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