Good morning from Niseko. A report coming to you a little later today. (Technical stuff that I don't understand - I just waited it out and enjoyed some bonus toast).

Winds and low visibility (in places) are back this morning, with top lifts and the gondolas at Village and Annupuri on hold this morning. Hirafu Gondola appears to be moving. Here in Hirafu visibility is low but a quick look at the Hanazono webcam shows much better. So perhaps we can say that visibility is varied.

This morning Hirafu were reporting a temperature of -9C at peak, Annupuri were reporting -15C.

Hopefully more snow to report tomorrow and perhaps a few more days beyond.

-----

Niseko Avalanche Report

Coastal Data 6:25am. Cape Benkei:NW16m/s. Cape Kamui: WSW15m/s, 1004hPa, wave 0.9m. Hanazono 1000m: -7.2℃, N9.9m/s. Hanazono 720: -6.7℃. Moiwa 800m: -7.2℃, N9.9m/s, snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m:-9.8℃, W wind speed n/a. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -9.4℃, WSW4.5m/s. Mizuno no Sawa 900m: -8.6℃, W7.8m/s. Kutchan Town: -2.9℃, WSW2.5m/s, snow depth 183cm. Moiwa base 300m: -5, 5cm new snow in last 12hrs, mild snow storm.

Low pressure snow fell until dawn. From 5am a winter type weather pattern has brought NE winds around 15-18m/s above 800m. Expect snowdrifts to develop on leeward slopes. The avalanche risk will increase to high by 11am in Kozan no Sawa and Osawa cornice slope around 1000m. The snow in the trees is good but shallow, easy to catch and edge though. Also flat light flat is making it hard to see surface undulations. Be careful hitting trees. Gate openings yet to be decided. Please respect the patrol's decision. Yesterday there was an accident at the bottom of the north face, Hirafu patrol and the Fire Dept assisted in the rescue. The summit Akiya(rescue toboggan) was used so will be unavailable today and tomorrow. Winter rescue operations are time consuming. Death from hyperthermia after the rescue is a real danger. Be very cautious.

-----

Planned ski area operations: Tuesday 23rd February 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning from official sources.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.

Niseko Grand Hirafu

24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 2cm
- Base: 2cm

Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 445cm (-5cm)
- Base: 225cm (-5cm)

Ski lifts:
- Planned: 6 lifts today - Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, King Quad 3, King 4, Swinging Monkey
- Night skiing: Ace Center Four quad (every day) and Ace Family quad (Saturdays only at the moment)
-----

Niseko HANAZONO Resort

24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 7cm
- Base: 7cm

Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 307cm (+0cm)
- Base: 215cm (+3cm)

Ski lifts:
- Planned: 3 lifts today - Hanazono 1, 2 and 3
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono

-----

Niseko Annupuri

24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 2cm

Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm (+0cm)
- Base: 210cm (+0cm)

Ski lifts:
- Planned: 6 lifts today - Jumbo 2 and 3 rested on weekdays
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing

-----

Niseko Village

24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm

Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 293cm (+23cm) (!)
- Base: 210cm (-20cm) (!!)

Ski lifts:
- Planned: 5 lifts today - Niseko Gondola, Community, Banzai, Morino, Wonderland
- Community Chair lift operates for night skiing

-----

Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.