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Zao Now: Saturday 19th December 2015

  • Dec 19, 2015
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 81cm

Posted on Saturday 19th December 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


I was up on the mountain yesterday. Some really good snow conditions out there and it was very cold too.


This morning it's -1C outside my place here in the village and there's 4cm of fresh snow on the ground as well.


From this morning it looks like there are more lifts operation at Zao - below is what is officially open this morning.


Not a whole lot of snow still on the forecast into mid week next week so we'll just have to see how things go. There's talk of a very nice looking cold and snowy weather front on the way for Christmas...


Have a fun weekend.


Lifts that are currently operating (subject to change):


- Sky Cable (gondola)

- Zao Chuo Ropeway

- Zao Ropeway

- Onsen Number 1 pair

- Mikaeri pair

- Chuo Number 1 pair AB

- Chuo Number 1 pair AB

- Katakai triple

- Zao Paradise pair AB

- Shobunuma Number 1 triple

- Shobunuma Number 2 pair

- Utopia Number 2 pair


Official snow depths:


Utopia: 25cm

Chuo: 50cm

Paradise: 30cm

Uwanodai: 10cm



Zao Now 2015-2016 season

Data as of Saturday 19th December 2015 Total snowfall at base 81cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 8 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 20cm (on 4th and 5th December) November 2015 snowfall 22cm observed on 2 days December 2015 snowfall 59cm observed on 6 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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