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Zao Now: Friday 6th December 2024

  • Dec 6, 2024
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 21cm
Snowfall at base this season 40cm

Posted on Friday 6th December 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


There has been a heavy downfall of large fluffy flakes. Visibility is not great due to the fall. The roads have not been plowed yet. The skies are currently unseen!


And more is forecast over this weekend.


Good signs for opening next weekend.


Quick update:


The ski area will be opening tomorrow and Sunday for (provisionally) two days; they are calling it 'pre-open' and it is one week earlier than planned.


The upper Chuo area will be available, via the Zao Chuo Ropeway.



Zao Now 2024-2025 season

Data as of Friday 6th December 2024 Total snowfall at base 40cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 6 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (on 6th December) November 2024 snowfall 18cm observed on 4 days December 2024 snowfall 22cm 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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