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Zao Now: Thursday 2nd December 2021

  • Dec 2, 2021
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 10cm
Snowfall at base this season 48cm

Posted on Thursday 2nd December 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


We're now into December. Can't make my mind up as the whether to say "already?" or " about time!".


After a couple of days of miserable rain and distinctly warmer, last night saw a fresh 10cms so we're back to whiteness all around at base. My phone got a snow storm warning which seems to contradict the weather forecast which is showing a sunny day tomorrow but with snow (not a lot) into the weekend (but then another warm spell next week (: ). That said, the fog has come down and snowfall is picking up so we'll see.


In the meantime, the Chuo slope is still open with the Utopia slopes only open on the weekend until the hoped-for full opening on the 11th.


Operating ski lifts (planned):


Chuo Number 1 pair


Official snow depth


Summit: 35cm

Paradise: 20cm

Chuo: 30cm

Utopia: 50cm

Uwanodai: 25cm



Zao Now 2021-2022 season

Data as of Thursday 2nd December 2021 Total snowfall at base 48cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 4 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 20cm (on 27th November) November 2021 snowfall 38cm observed on 3 days December 2021 snowfall 10cm 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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