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Zao Now: Monday 18th December 2023

  • Dec 18, 2023
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 17cm
Snowfall at base this season 59cm

Posted on Monday 18th December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


We had a great dump of snow yesterday. The snow today is crunchy underfoot. It packs very well under pressure. This is the stuff the skies and snowboarders have been waiting for.


The roads have not peen plowed, so the roads have a pack layer of snow. Chains or snow tires are needed.


Every once and a while a strong gust of wind comes and disperses the snow.


The Chuo are is once again open this morning..



Zao Now 2023-2024 season

Data as of Monday 18th December 2023 Total snowfall at base 59cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 9 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 18cm (on 30th November) November 2023 snowfall 32cm observed on 4 days December 2023 snowfall 27cm observed on 5 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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