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Zao Now: Monday 28th April 2014

  • Apr 28, 2014
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 579cm

Posted on Monday 28th April 2014 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Busy over the weekend in Zao. Of course, there's only limited upper areas remaining open now, so everyone's heading to the same place. But still, a fair amount of terrain open - Chuo, Paradise, Utopia and the top Zangezaka course.


Tomorrow is a holiday again, but sadly there's a good chance of rain and for the following few days as well. Hopefully conditions might clear up for the upcoming long - and last - weekend.


Snow continues to quickly dry up from the lower parts of the mountain.


The Zao Echoline road is now open. It seems that until some time in early May they will be closing the road from 5pm until 8am the next morning but during the day time it's open to enjoy.


Operating ski lifts at Zao (* subject to change):


Daily until 6th May:

Ropeways and Gondolas (open through the year)

Chuo Number 1 Pair

Chuo Number 2 Pair

Utopia Number 2 Pair

Katakai Triple

Paradise Pair AB


Official snow depths:

Utopia: 120cm

Chuo: 110cm

Paradise: 120cm

Uwanodai: 0cm



Zao Now 2013-2014 season

Data as of Monday 28th April 2014 Total snowfall at base so far 579cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 59 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 50cm (on 16th February) November 2013 snowfall 12cm observed on 1 day December 2013 snowfall 179cm observed on 18 days January 2014 snowfall 111cm observed on 18 days February 2014 snowfall 166cm observed on 10 days March 2014 snowfall 107cm observed on 11 days April 2014 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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