You may have seen reports about strong winds on the television news. Well, here in Zao things have started off with just a slight wind and the resort open as planned. Just cloudy conditions but a mild morning with the temperature currently +7 degrees in village.

That very strong wind looks likely to be with us later in the day though and it may well affect the lifts if the resort is still operating when the winds arrive. Looks like it is going to be very, very windy out there later on. And probably into tomorrow as well actually, but hopefully less so. We might also wake up to more snowfall from overnight, so I hope to bring news of that in my report tomorrow.

Current lift operations at Zao, as of 3rd April - subject to change:

Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Onsen No1 pair lift (until 8th April)
Onsen No2 quad lift (until 8th April)
Zao Ropeway (open all year, but closed for maintenance 9th-25th April except Saturdays and Sundays)

Chuo and Paradise Area
Chuo No1 pair lift (until 6th May, but only Sat/Sun from 9th April until 27th April)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (until 6th May, but only Sat/Sun from 9th April until 27th April)
Paradise No1 pair lift (until 6th May (but only Sat/Sun from 9th April until 27th April)
Shobunuma No2 pair lift (until 8th April)

Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Yokokura No1 pair lift (until 8th April)
Astraea No3 pair lift (until 8th April)
Utopia No2 pair lift (dependent on snow but latest until 6th May)

Omori and Kurohime Area
Kurohime No1 quad (no fixed closing date, dependent on snow)

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Official snow depths (3rd April 12)
Utopia - 240cm
Chuo - 220cm
Paradise - 230cm
Uwanodai - 150cm

Operating lifts (3rd April 12)
All Ropeways (Skycable, Zao Chuo Ropeway, Zao Ropeway) operating.
Part of the resort remains open - see above.