Happy New Year everyone!

今年もよろしくお願いします。

The year begins with fresh snowfall. Hurray!!

Again, kind of modest really in terms of numbers so far, but there has been 15cm of lovely snowfall so far and I suspect more than that in places due to the wind blowing it around.

It is continuing to come down nicely. It is also a very cold morning so we need to wrap up super well before heading out.

I see a lot of folks already lining up for that first lift at Hirafu. Come on, give us a wave!

There'll be more fresh snow to report tomorrow.

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The early morning Annupuri gondola operation was cancelled this morning due to the weather conditions.

I suspect other lifts might be affected today, but as of 8:30am the official site appears to be overloading and not being very responsive - so I can't confirm anything this morning. Perhaps too many drinks last night?

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Niseko Avalanche Report

Mountain base -11℃,15cm snowfall in 12h, moderate strong wind and snowing. Moiwa800m: NW8.7m/s, -12.4℃. Hirafu1000m: ENE3.3m/s, -15.2℃, Hanazono720m: NNW6.8m/s, -12℃. Benkei cape: WNW19m/s, Kamui cape: WSW17m/s, 3.4m waves. Annuppuri 1000m snowdepth 105cm.

Happy New Year. Stormy weather under the wintery pressure distribution. Snowdrifts have are developing, 30cm at 600m elevation, up to 80-100cm in some places around 800m elevation. The developing snowdrifts are extremely unstable. Avalanche risk in cornice slopes and knolls above 800m elevation is high today. Potentially triggered from Dec 31st layer. Tricky snow conditions in windward crusty slopes. Please ski carefully. The storm is forecasted to persist today. Be cautious and do not push it too far today.

It is still not allowed to access the out of bounds from the ski resort. Please respect the Niseko Rules. The avalanche hazard in strictly off limits areas such as Haru No Taki is very high. Do not cross boundary ropes.

We’re finally seeing a decent snowfall. Beware of frostbites. Have a great New Year’s day.

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Ski resort operation information: Wednesday 1st January 2020
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report. Subject to change.

SOME INFO NOT UPDATED THIS MORNING

Niseko Grand Hirafu

Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 190cm
- Base: 65cm

Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad (until 8:30pm)
- Ace Number 1 pair
- Ace Number 2 Center quad (until 8:20pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 8:10pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 8:30pm)
- King Number 1 pair
- King Number 2 quad
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey

All courses now open EXCEPT the following:
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Konayuki
- Miharashi
- Dynamic

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Niseko HANAZONO Resort

Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 120cm
- Base: 70cm

Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad

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Niseko Annupuri

Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 115cm
- Base: 80cm

Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 8:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair

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Niseko Village

Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 115cm
- Base: 80cm

Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 8:00pm)
- Village Express (until 8:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 8:00pm)
- Morino Chair
- Country Road

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Night time operations are normally available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resort areas. Subject to weather conditions. (There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO resort area).