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Zao Now: Saturday 17th December 2016

  • Dec 17, 2016
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 17cm
Snowfall at base this season 88cm

Posted on Saturday 17th December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


An early report this morning as I need to get myself down to the city.


But it's a good start to the day with 17cm of fresh snow on the ground here at base and snow falling early on too.


Looks like more of the resort will be open this morning - including the top Zange-zaka Juhyo course, the Paradise area and more of the lower slopes too.


More may well change today (some places not reporting yet at time of my writing this) and I'll update you on the latest in my report tomorrow.


It should be a good day!


Lifts that are planned to be operating today at Zao Onsen:


Zao Ropeway

Chuo Ropeway

Sky Cable

Mikaeri pair

Chuo Number 1 pair AB

Chuo Number 2 pair AB

Onsen Number 1 pair

Onsen Number 2 quad

Zao Paradise Pair AB

Shobunuma Number 2 pair

Katakai triple

Utopia Number 2 pair


Official snow depths:

Chuo - 50cm

Utopia - 50cm

Uwanodai - 35cm

Paradise - 50cm



Zao Now 2016-2017 season

Data as of Saturday 17th December 2016 Total snowfall at base 88cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 16 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 17cm (on 17th December) November 2016 snowfall 11cm observed on 6 days December 2016 snowfall 77cm 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.


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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