Hello to you all from Niseko.

Just a little bit of fresh snow at base since my last report, 1cm of it in fact.

Wind caused some problems with lifts once again yesterday - early afternoon with the Gondola and two top lifts at Annupuri coming to a halt as well as the Niseko Gondola and top Wonderland lift at Niseko Village and the two top lifts at Niseko Grand Hirafu.

Just leave us alone wind, ok?! That's what I said yesterday, but it doesn't seem to be listening for now as at the start of the day top lifts at Hirafu, Village and Annupuri are at a standstill, as noted below.

This morning light snow is falling and visibility seems fairly decent. The forecast is still telling us of regular snowfall on and off through the coming week, maybe more around Sunday than other days.

...and hopefully less wind! Naughty wind.

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Just a few more days left in January and so far for this month I have observed 288cm of snowfall here at base. 31cm more than January last year. The running total for the season so far is 596cm; at the end of January last year the running total for the season so far was 806cm. So we're currently just over 2m of snow behind where we were last season.

One interesting thing is that if you look at the numbers you'll see that last season the snowfall was somewhat front-loaded with the most falling in December and then less each month from then on. Let's hope for a bumper February.

I'll look back over the statistics once again once we get into February.

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Resort specific lift opening news at time of writing (subject to change during the day):

Niseko Grand Hirafu
The top Ace Number 4 and King Number 4 lifts are not starting the day as planned due to strong winds. King Number 3 is operating but at a slower speed.

Niseko HANAZONO Resort
All three Hanazono lifts plan to be operating as normal at the start of the day.

Niseko Village
The Niseko Gondola and top Wonderland lift are not starting the day as planned due to strong winds.

Niseko Annupuri
The Annupuri Gondola and top Jumbo Number 3 and Number 4 lifts are not starting the day as planned due to strong winds.

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Niseko Avalanche Report:

Niseko base 6.00am: -5°C, trace new snow, minor snowdrift development. Moiwa 800m: -10°C, W8m/s, trace new snow, snowdrift development. Mikaeri 740m: -8°C, SW3.7m/s, Annupuri 1150m: -11°C, W10m/s, poor visibility. Hirafu ridge line -12°C, W18m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NW15m/s. Kamui Cape WSW12m/s, 1020hPa, wave 2.1m.

A steep atmospheric pressure gradient is producing a westerly wind 10-18m/s above 1000m. Although only a trace of snow has fallen, due to the strong wind there has been significant cornice and snowdrift development above 900m. Groomed runs higher on the mountain are hard. From observation Kozan no sawa(backbowl) side wall 1000m and Osawa SE side 1000-1100m, Higashi One (east ridge)1000m cornice slopes, the avalanche risk is high, surface slabs fracturing at about 50cm depth. Do not duck ropes to enter these areas. Gates 2,3 will be closed. Until the current weather system changes please be patient. Below 1000m don't carelessly ride open steep slopes, cornices, knoll terrain, you may have an accident. The snow in the trees is reset. Have a good day.

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Official resort snow depths as of Thursday 28th January 2016:

Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 320cm
Base - 135cm

Niseko Village
Top - 270cm
Base - 160cm

Niseko Annupuri
Top - 260cm
Base - 160cm

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Lifts planned to be open for night skiing:

Niseko Grand Hirafu:
Ace Family Pair lift, Ace Number 2 Center Four lift, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Number 1 Pair lift
(There is no night skiing at the Hanazono area)

Niseko Village:
Community Chair and Banzai Chair

Niseko Annupuri:
Jumbo Number 1 Quad

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Niseko Grand Hirafu 6 day weather and snow forecast