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Zao Now: Thursday 12th December 2013

  • Dec 12, 2013
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 30cm
Snowfall at base this season 65cm

Posted on Thursday 12th December 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


30cm of fresh snow in the village this morning. Yes, thirty. Oh yes. I like it. It's piled up on top of the car this morning but I will happily get out there and shovel it off. Minus 2 degrees, not much of a wind at all, and the snow continuing to fall.


I reckon those official numbers I have posted below are being rather conservative. Patrol saying there's up to 1m in places up there this morning so I hear.


Anyway, looks like winter has arrived and while at the time of writing I can't confirm any further lifts opening, I would totally expect more opening very very soon.


Snow is forecast through the end of the weekend.


Official snow depths (12th December 13)

Utopia: 60cm

Chuo: 60cm

Paradise: 60cm

Uwanodai: 30cm


Operating lifts (12th December 13)

Ropeways and Gondolas

Chuo Number 1 Pair

Zao Paradise Pair



Zao Now 2013-2014 season

Data as of Thursday 12th December 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 65cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 5 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 30cm (on 12th December) November 2013 snowfall 12cm observed on 1 day December 2013 snowfall 53cm observed 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 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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