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Zao Now: Friday 17th January 2020

  • Jan 17, 2020
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 104cm

Posted on Friday 17th January 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Good morning from Zao.


It has been great to be on the receiving end of some fresh snowfall, but we still need much more. As, it seems, does lots of Japan.


Good news in that the top Zangezaka course opened up from yesterday so you can now ski or board back down from that top course.


The only change I can see on the lift operations table is the addition of the Onsen Number 2 quad.


Right now it is cloudy with earlier snowfall easing off.


Look out for the chance of some decent snow around Tuesday. It does look like it should be keeping fairly cold through until then so the snow we have should keep in decent shape.


Lifts normally operating:


- Zao Paradise pair A B

- Shobunuma Number 2 pair

- Katakai triple

- Chuo Number 1 pair AB

- Chuo Number 2 pair AB

- Mikaeri pair

- Diamond Number 2 pair lift

- Utopia Number 2 pair lift

- Onsen Number 1 pair

- Onsen Number 2 quad

- Onsen Number 3 parallel A B

- Kokutai pair

- Zao Chuo Ropeway / Zao Ropeway / Sky Cable


Ski course areas normally open:


- Zangezaka (part)

- Chuo (part)

- Utopia

- Paradise (part)

- Shobunuma (part)

- Diamond (part)

- Uwanodai (part)


Official snow depths (as reported by resort):


- Summit area: 45cm

- Paradise area: 40cm

- Chuo area: 40cm

- Utopia area: 50cm

- Uwanodai area: 25cm

- Oomori area: 15cm



Zao Now 2019-2020 season

Data as of Friday 17th January 2020 Total snowfall at base 104cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 25 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 16cm (on 5th December) November 2019 snowfall 8cm observed on 3 days December 2019 snowfall 51cm observed on 10 days January 2020 snowfall 45cm observed on 12 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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