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Zao Now: Tuesday 19th December 2017

  • Dec 19, 2017
  • 2 min read

Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 168cm

Posted on Tuesday 19th December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Morning from Zao.


It's snowing!


Hopefully it still will be when I get back from Sendai later today and I can report more tomorrow.


Operating lifts:


- Most areas now at least part open


Official snow depths:


- Summit area: 65cm

- Paradise area: 70cm

- Chuo area: 70cm

- Utopia area: 90cm

- Uwanodai area: 50cm

- Oomori area: 55cm



Zao Now 2017-2018 season

Data as of Tuesday 19th December 2017 Total snowfall at base 168cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 18 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (on 25th November) November 2017 snowfall 66cm observed on 5 days December 2017 snowfall 102cm observed on 13 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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