Yesterday didn't turn out to be much fun at all. The rain ended up being pretty bad and dampening spirits with it. But the good news is that it is colder this morning and we have a few cm of fresh snow in the village. Not enough to cover up the rain damage on the slopes, and so extra care is needed out there this morning - it may still be Niseko, but conditions aren't the deep fluffy kind we know so well here today.

3-4cm of snow this morning and light snow falling as I write this. It's very windy again, affecting lift operations which are limited this morning - basically only the lower lifts are open across the mountain resorts. The Hirafu Gondola is the only Gondola managing to move early on. With stronger winds forecast for later on, I suspect that some of the New Year parties will be starting a little early today!

It should be lively evening and look out for the New Year fireworks as well, if the weather conditions allow of course.

We do have decent snowfall lined up and so hopefully we'll be back to Niseko-like conditions pretty soon.

In the meantime, hope you have fun wherever you are in the world tonight - have a safe one and see you in 2013.

Lifts Operating (at time of writing)

Niseko Grand Hirafu
Ace Family Pair
Ace Number 1
Ace Number 2 Quad (Center Four)
Hirafu Gondola
Holiday Number 1 Pair
Swinging Monkey

Niseko Annupuri
Jumbo Number 1 Quad
Jumbo Number 2 Pair

Niseko Village
Community Chair
Banzai Chair
Morino Chair

Niseko Hanazono
Hanazono Number 1 Quad (reduced speed)
Hanazono Number 2 Quad (reduced speed)

Official Resort Snow Depths

Grand Hirafu & Niseko Hanazono
Top - 290cm
Bottom - 130cm

Niseko Annupuri
Top - 235cm
Bottom - 190cm

Niseko Village
Top - 270cm
Bottom - 160cm

Avalanche Information:

Niseko base 6am: -3C, 3cm of broken particles snow since early morning. Moiwa 800m: -3C and strong westerly wind with slight snowfall. Coastal wind: WNW17m/s. Annupuri peak wind forecast: W20m/s.

Stormy conditions above 800m altitude as the wind shifted from warm southerly to cold northerly as the low-pressure moved east. The mountain's condition is extremely bad. A thin layer of new snow is covering a thick layer of ice. Tricky conditions on and off-piste, be careful not to loose control, fall and hit a tree.

Gates 1, 2, 4, 6 will be closed. Do not duck ropes to access Osawa or Fujiwaranosawa. Frustrated voices towards not opening gate 3 (Hirafu peak) are being heard, however it just cannot be opened right away due to weather and other various factors. Please understand the resort and the ski patrol are doing the best they can to open it as soon as possible. Of course, everyone has the right to climb a mountain whenever they want to, however also understand that this is a ski-resort mountain involving both people with and without mountaineering knowledge/experience. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Avalanche hazard will rise as the storm develops; be careful and stay humble.

Have a Happy Year 2013.