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Zao Now: Tuesday 12th April 2016

  • Apr 12, 2016
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 460cm

Posted on Tuesday 12th April 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Morning from here in Zao.


And guess what... yesterday morning there was 3cm of fresh snowfall on the ground. (Note that the 3cm recorded in this report is that snowfall). We got a quick blast of winter once again!


This morning the sun is out and while it has been a cold early morning I suspect it will warm up and we'll soon be getting back to April-like conditions.


It's going to get warmer still over the next few days with some rain (heavy rain?) due around Wednesday night into Thursday.


The snow base has completely gone from around lower areas now - just limited top areas remain open.


Official snow depths:


Utopia: 40cm

Chuo: 60cm

Paradise: 50cm

Uwanodai: -cm


Planned closing dates of lifts at Zao Onsen (subject to change due to snow conditions)


Open daily until Thursday 5th May:

Chuo Number 1 pair lift AB

Chuo Number 2 pair lift AB (* Sat/Sun and holidays only)

Katakai triple lift (* Sat/Sun and holidays only)

Paradise pair AB lift (* Sat/Sun and holidays only)

Utopia Number 2 pair lift


Also open only on Saturdays and holidays until Thursday 5th May:

Chuo Number 2 pair lift AB

Katakai triple lift

Paradise pair AB lift


The Zao Ropeway, Sky Cable gondola and Chuo Ropeway are all open throughout the year (apart from specific maintenance periods)


Lifts not mentioned in the above list have closed for the season.



Zao Now 2015-2016 season

Data as of Tuesday 12th April 2016 Total snowfall at base 460cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 64 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 46cm (on 19th January) November 2015 snowfall 22cm observed on 2 days December 2015 snowfall 96cm observed on 12 days January 2016 snowfall 211cm observed on 25 days February 2016 snowfall 83cm observed on 17 days March 2016 snowfall 45cm observed on 7 days April 2016 snowfall 3cm observed on 1 day




All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Zao Onsen. 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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