Yuzawa Now: Thursday 6th February 2020
- Feb 6, 2020
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 48cm
Snowfall at base this seas 198cm
Posted on Thursday 6th February 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
I'm so happy this morning, I could almost cry.
For a moment yesterday morning I was wondering if we might be disappointed (again) because the sun was out and it didn't really feel like we were on the verge of getting heavy snow. It started at higher elevations around the middle of the day and then properly in the afternoon.
Result?
This morning is easily - clearly - the best snowfall of the season so far.
It is the first time that I have big icicles hanging off the side of my house. And a thick layer of snow on the ground.
It just feels... RIGHT!
This is the 'normal'.
I have measured 48cm of snow (you can see 44cm of snow on the top of the car, photo below, which was parked just to the north of Ishiuchi overnight).
This morning Maiko Snow Resort are reporting 50cm of fresh snowfall.
Kagura haven't announced a snowfall number today, but the Tashiro Area is closed due to windy conditions.
This snowfall will of course make a good difference to some resorts around town. Right now they are probably just 'dealing' with it and changes may happen during the day today or tomorrow. For the moment I note that Ishiuchi Maruyama are now saying that they are almost all open (down to base) and Maiko are preparing more courses to open. I would expect more of that at other resorts too.
The top area of Yuzawa Kogen (via the Ropeway) appears to be on hold early on due to wind. That might open later on if conditions allow.
It is still snowing but due to ease off later on this afternoon or this evening; sun is expected tomorrow with more snow due on Saturday. I like the sound of that weather pattern.
And on that note I hope you have a good day.
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GALA Yuzawa
- All of the Central Area and Northern Area courses are open
- The Eliza and Batman courses in the Southern Area are open
- The Ropeway connecting GALA Yuzawa with Yuzawa Kogen is operating
- Take the Gondola back down at the end of the day (Falcon downhill course not yet available)
- Official snow depth: 180cm
Ishiuchi Maruyama
- Most of the resort is now open - down to base!
- Official snow depth: 180cm (upper); 120cm (mid)
Iwappara
- 5 lifts are operating with the central to upper area of the resort open
- Official snow depth: 80cm
Joetsu Kokusai
- 9 lifts operating
- 10 courses open (front of hotel and mostly the Panorama and Atema areas)
- Official snow depth: 100cm
Kagura
- All areas of Kagura are normally open
- 21 of 23 courses open
- The Dragondola connecting with Naeba is operating
- Official snow depth: 160cm
Kandatsu Snow Resort
- A, B, C and E lifts plan to be operating
- Official snow depth: 140cm
Maiko Snow Resort
- The Gondola, Nagamine Number 2 quad and two top Okusoechi lifts are operating with 12 courses open on that gondola side.
- Take the Gondola back down to base
- The Maiko Area is open with 1 lift operating and 3 courses open
- Plans to open more as quickly as they can; changes expected today
- Official snow depth: 150cm (upper); 55cm (base)
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
- Ropeway and Number 1 and 3 lifts operating
- 12 of 14 courses open
- Official snow depth: 170cm
Naeba
- 21 of 22 courses open
- Official snow depth: 80cm
- Details on Naeba Now report here
NASPA Ski Garden
- All lifts are operating and all main courses are open
- Kids Garden open
- Mogul and Slopestyle areas not open
- Official snow depth: 115cm
Yuzawa Kogen
- Yuzawa Ropeway operating
- All Kogen lifts now operating and Kogen Snowland is open
- The base area should also be open
- The Ropeway connecting Yuzawa Kogen with the Southern Area of GALA Yuzawa is operating
- Official snow depth: 120cm (Kogen); 30cm (base)
Yuzawa Nakazato
- Number 1, 2, 3 and 5 lifts operating
- Official snow depth: 60cm
Yuzawa Park
- Number 1, 3 and 7 lifts operating
- Official snow depth: 35cm
Yuzawa Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Thursday 6th February 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 198cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 22 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 48cm (6th February) November 2019 snowfall 12cm reported on 1 day December 2019 snowfall 27cm reported on 7 days January 2020 snowfall 88cm reported on 10 days February 2020 snowfall 71cm reported on 4 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.