Zao Now: Monday 21st December 2020
- Dec 21, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 106cm
Posted on Monday 21st December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.
Well folks, a measly offering this morning of new snow but the good news is that it continues and more decent amount expected tomorrow. (Today it's just those irritating pin-pricks on your face which should be covered anyway because it is quite cold (but also for the gondola waiting areas and cabin right?!). Reflecting back to this time last year, only the Chuo and Utopia slopes were available until nearing new year.
The top continues to be foggy, especially at the very top of the Zao Ropeway. In the rush to open for the weekend, the walk to the beginning of the Zangezaka slope is confusing as it winds through a series of trenches so do not be put off. The very beginning part is very narrow with some undergrowth sticking out but it is open (otherwise there'd be rope across). I saw a number of people turning back in the mistaken belief that it was not skiable - it is, but foggy. Lower down, the Kurohime motorway slope has not been groomed so plenty of powder there.
Another place to be wary of is the slip path from the top of the Kurohime to the Utopia area. I came whizzing around the corner so that I would not have to slide-skate at the end, only to be confronted with a series of bushes, so came a cropper there and it's waist deep (seems like I was not the first!). Will take a saw up and deal with that.
Today's recommendation: stay low - Uwanodai area, Sunrise, Nakamori (triple chair lift at the Chuo Ropeway), Yokokura, Hyakumannin, Kurohime and Omori areas.
Zao Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Monday 21st December 2020 Total snowfall at base 106cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 9 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (on 17th December) November 2020 snowfall 0cm December 2020 snowfall 106cm observed on 9 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.