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Zao Now: Thursday 2nd January 2014

  • Jan 2, 2014
  • 2 min read

Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 40cm
Snowfall at base this season 233cm

Posted on Thursday 2nd January 2014 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


40cm. Oh yes. 40cm here in the car park outside and I am more than happy to get out there and shovel it (though hopefully if I wait long enough someone else might come along and do it for me!)


But anyway, yes, it has been very snowy since my last report. Can't say I was expecting to say we have so much new snow this morning, but I'll take it!


It's a cold morning probably feeling more so because of the strong wind.


I'm just going by the official updates here, but it would seem that the only lifts to be affected by the wind at the moment are the Number 1 quad lift at Kurohime and the upper part of the Zao Ropeway going up to the summit.


Things should calm down for tomorrow when there will probably be clearer skies.


Official snow depths:

Utopia: 190cm

Chuo: 160cm

Paradise: 180cm

Uwanodai: 100cm


Zao Now 2013-2014 season

Data as of Thursday 2nd January 2014 Total snowfall at base so far 233cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 21 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (on 2nd January) November 2013 snowfall 12cm observed on 1 day December 2013 snowfall 179cm observed on 18 days January 2014 snowfall 42cm observed on 2 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.


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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