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Zao Now: Friday 1st January 2021

  • Jan 1, 2021
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 157cm

Posted on Friday 1st January 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


A very Happy New Year everyone.


To those following but were unable to join us, we hope that you will be able to visit next year and that conditions are just as good with no Murphy in sight.


Everyone is enjoying another day of fresh snow. Although it looks murky out there, at mid-levels (e.g. top of Kurohime), visibility is fine, no wind and the snow light and fluffy - perfect. It continues to snow and forecasted to do so for quite a few days hence. It is quite cold though (reportedly -12 to -15c at the very top).


No fireworks this year but it seems that everyone was a bed early anyway, no doubt due to the great conditions.


Today's tip: Ryuzan is almost empty.



Zao Now 2020-2021 season

Data as of Friday 1st January 2021 Total snowfall at base 157cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 16 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (on 17th December) November 2020 snowfall 0cm December 2020 snowfall 142cm observed on 15 days January 2021 snowfall 15cm 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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