Zao Now: Wednesday 3rd March 2021
- Mar 3, 2021
- 2 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 380cm
Posted on Wednesday 3rd March 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.
A significant drop in temperature but not as much snow as originally foretold.
The morning mist has more or less lifted and the sun is in and out with the clouds.
The Kurohime/Omori side has hardly anyone. The Giant and end of the Crazy Traverse is sheet ice, however, with the former closed. Moderate winds at the top there. The Kurohime motorway is running slow but you can enjoy views of the valley while doing so.
Slope conditions are light to heavy crunchy. Be wary of hitting powder patches which slow speed suddenly being heavy.
Beginners would be well-advised in going to Diamond Valley where it is lovely and soft. The Ohira course is likewise as is the Paradise side course.
The summit has moderate winds and the slope down is one long ice burn, but fortunately with patches of new snow to provide grip.
The slopes I'd advise as not worth bothering with are Sunrise - mostly long patches of ice.
All in all, a good day to be out and the sun is likely to turn the hard crunch in many areas softer
All lifts scheduled to be operating apart from:
- Ryuzan pair
- Paradise Number 3 pair [finished season]
- Kokutai pair [finished season]
- Karamatsu pair [finished season]
All areas open apart from:
- Ryuzan
- Kotan
Official snow depths (as reported by the ski area):
- Summit area: 135cm
- Paradise area: 160cm
- Chuo area: 160cm
- Utopia area: 165cm
- Uwanodai area: 130cm
- Omori area: 90cm
- Kurohime: 165cm
Zao Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Wednesday 3rd March 2021 Total snowfall at base 380cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 49 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (on 30th January) November 2020 snowfall 0cm December 2020 snowfall 142cm observed on 15 days January 2021 snowfall 146cm observed on 20 days February 2021 snowfall 90cm observed on 14 days March 2021 snowfall 2cm 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.