Zao Now: Saturday 5th December 2015
- Dec 5, 2015
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 62cm
Posted on Saturday 5th December 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.
There's another 20cm of snow on the ground here in Zao since yesterday as we feel the effects of this storm coming across northern Japan.
There is enough for the resort to be part open from today. Yes, Zao is open.
What we seem to have open is as follows:
- Ropeways
- Onsen Number 1 pair lift
- Chuo Number 1 pair AB
- Utopia Number 2 pair
...so a few different parts of the mountain open (Uwanodai, Chuo and Utopia). It's limited and fragmented at this stage of course, but it is a start and cause for celebration.
Lighter wind just at the moment but snow and wind is forecast for the day today again with things starting to calm down from tomorrow. After that calm and clear weather forecast for mid week.
Zao Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Saturday 5th December 2015 Total snowfall at base 62cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 4 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 20cm (on 4th and 5th December) November 2015 snowfall 22cm observed on 2 days December 2015 snowfall 40cm 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.