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Zao Now: Saturday 15th December 2018

  • Dec 15, 2018
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 59cm

Posted on Saturday 15th December 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Still limited but more opening this morning - we now have the upper lifts at the Chuo area and also the Onsen Number 1 pair at Uwanodai and the Utopia Number 2 pair lifts operating.


Over the next few days there might be some sun shining through but for the moment the clouds are still over the mountain.


Next decent snowfall is forecast for around Tuesday.


The resort would (of course) like to quickly get fully open and will do so as soon as it can.


Lifts and course info:


- Chuo Number 1

- Mikaeri pair

- Onsen Number 1 pair

- Utopia Number 2 pair


- Zao Ropeway

- Zao Chuo Ropeway

- Sky Cable


- Chuo area part open

- Utopia area part open

- Uwanodai area part open


Official snow depths (as reported by resort):


- Summit area: 25cm

- Paradise area: 35cm

- Chuo area: 45cm

- Utopia area: 35cm

- Uwanodai area: 35cm

- Oomori area: 35cm



Zao Now 2018-2019 season

Data as of Saturday 15th December 2018 Total snowfall at base 59cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 11 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 16cm (on 9th December) November 2018 snowfall 7cm observed on 3 days December 2018 snowfall 52cm observed on 8 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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