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Zao Now: Wednesday 17th February 2021

  • Feb 17, 2021
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 13cm
Snowfall at base this season 350cm

Posted on Wednesday 17th February 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Something for everyone today after yesterday's blizzards and rain the day before.


Although from afar the viz looks poor, ground viz is fine although yellow lenses would be beneficial. You can see across the Chuo basin.


It is snowing light to moderate - after 30 seconds on the chairlift I was covered in sugar dust. Winds can be light or none at all.


There is powder and powdered slopes of various depths where you want to ride again and again and again and again...


There are slopes though that still have a light crunch under the powder but nothing to moan about. The exception is the Hahnenkam C course off the Onsen no.4 quad which is mostly sheet ice.


Enjoy what is a great day for riding (but not for touring with the camera out).


All lifts scheduled to be operating apart from:


- Kokutai pair

- Ryuzan pair

- Karamatsu pair

- Paradise Number 3 pair


All areas open apart from:


- Ryuzan

- Kotan


Official snow depths (as reported by the ski area):


- Summit area: 150cm

- Paradise area: 160cm

- Chuo area: 160cm

- Utopia area: 190cm

- Uwanodai area: 130cm

- Omori area: 110cm

- Kurohime: 190cm



Zao Now 2020-2021 season

Data as of Wednesday 17th February 2021 Total snowfall at base 350cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 44 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (on 30th January) November 2020 snowfall 0cm December 2020 snowfall 142cm observed on 15 days January 2021 snowfall 146cm observed on 20 days February 2021 snowfall 62cm observed on 9 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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