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Zao Now: Wednesday 1st January 2020

  • Jan 1, 2020
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 63cm

Posted on Wednesday 1st January 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Good morning from Zao.


And a very Happy New Year!


There is snow on the ground at base again this morning. Not a huge amount but it is better than none and hopefully we will get some more before tomorrow. I think it's safe to say that more will be required for more of the mountain to open up.


The resort itself is early this morning reporting snow at Utopia, cloud in other areas.


Lifts normally operating:


- 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

- Zao Chuo Ropeway / Zao Ropeway / Sky Cable


Ski course areas normally open:


- Chuo (part)

- Utopia

- Paradise (part)

- Shobunuma (part)

- Diamond (part)

- Uwanodai (part)


Official snow depths (as reported by resort):


- Summit area: 35cm

- Paradise area: 20cm

- Chuo area: 30cm

- Utopia area: 30cm

- Uwanodai area: 20cm

- Oomori area: 5cm



Zao Now 2019-2020 season

Data as of Wednesday 1st January 2020 Total snowfall at base 63cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 14 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 4cm observed on 1 day




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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