Zao Now: Thursday 15th December 2022
- Dec 15, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata
New snowfall at base 11cm
Snowfall at base this season 49cm
Posted on Thursday 15th December 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.
Morning from Zao.
We are enjoying some regular snow at the moment and it does look likely to continue (at least on and off) into next week.
The official site shows the Onsen Number 1 pair on hold as well as the Zao Ropeway. Perhaps it's windy up there? Honestly, the status is unclear. In terms of runs open, it's just (part of) Chuo. The Chuo lift is definitely moving.
(Personal comment from someone very interested in details every morning: they seem to have spent money on a new website re-do, but are still not offering clear details every morning...)
Will do what we can with the lift info.
Lifts:
- Chuo Number 1 pair AB
- Mikaeri pair
- Uwanodai Number 1 pair
- Onsen Number 1 pair
- Zao Ropeway
- Zao Chuo Ropeway
- Sky Cable
Courses:
- Chuo (part)
Official snow depth:
- Summit: 45cm
- Paradise: 50cm
- Chuo: 50cm
- Utopia: 40cm
- Uwanodai: 30cm
- Yokokura: 15cm
Zao Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Thursday 15th December 2022 Total snowfall at base 49cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 10 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 12cm (on 8th December) November 2022 snowfall 0cm December 2022 snowfall 49cm observed on 10 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.