Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 10cm Snowfall at base this season 979cm Weather overview Blue skies, some cloud Wind Moderate Temperature -4C base / -10C top Visibility Excellent Posted at 9:05am on Wednesday 30th January 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Morning from Niseko. I have around 10cm or so of very nice quality snowfall to report in the village area this morning - a light delivery both in terms of cm and quality of snow. The sun is out for the moment and while looking over in the direction of Yotei I can't see that particularly mountain, there is lots of blue sky above the resorts here in Niseko with just a bit of cloud hanging around up there. Wind on the mountain again today, I'm afraid, with wind speeds of up to 20m/s. Somewhat inevitably, lifts are affected and the top lifts at each of the resort areas are not operating this morning. At Grand Hirafu it's the top Ace Number 4, King Number 3 and King Number 4 lifts that are affected as well as the Hanazono Number 3 quad over on the Hanazono side. At Niseko Village, the Gondola and Wonderland Chair are not moving at the time of writing. Over at Annupuri, the Annupuri Gondola, Jumbo 3 and Jumbo 4 lifts are on hold with just the Jumbo 1 and Jumbo 2 lifts open. All subject to change of course if conditions allow, but strong winds are forecast for the day... Friday and Saturday look set to be somewhat warmer, with a return to colder conditions hopefully from Sunday. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Wednesday 30th January 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 979cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 64 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 0cm Snowfall at base this season 979cm Weather overview Blue skies, some cloud Wind Moderate Temperature -4C base / -10C top Visibility Excellent Posted at 8:47am on Thursday 31st January 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here No new cm of snowfall to report from Niseko this morning, there has just been a slight dusting here in the Hirafu village area. It is a relatively mild and calm morning here. Right now the thermometer is telling me it's -1C and that's in fact what Niseko Grand Hirafu is reporting as well. Coldest temperature reported from the resorts this morning is -8C over at Annupuri. So it's all calm conditions out there this morning and all of the lifts on the mountain look set to be operating this morning as normal. It's a more cloudy and overcast feel to the morning early on. Lots of grey cloud over in the direction of Mt Yotei. Similar conditions are currently forecast for tomorrow as well. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Thursday 31st January 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 979cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 64 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 15cm Snowfall at base this season 1006cm Weather overview Cloud, light snow Wind Strong Temperature -7C base / -14C top Visibility Poor Posted at 8:55am on Tuesday 5th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Around 15cm of new snowfall this morning in the village. Nice and cold with a temperature of -7C at the moment. Almost reluctant to mention it but... it's very windy. Strong winds during the night last night and continued strong winds now this morning. The Niseko Village resort is reporting a NW wind speed of up to 26m/s as of 8:30am. As you might imagine, it's affecting the resort operatings on the mountain. Looks like at Niseko Annupuri just the Jumbo Number 1 lift operating with the Jumbo Number 2 to start moving at 9am. At Niseko Village, the Banzai Chair, Morino Chair and Community Chair lifts are operating. Niseko Grand Hirafu have the Ace Family and Holiday Number 1 Pair lifts operating, with the Hirafu Gondola moving at reduced speed. The Ace Number 1 and King Number 1 lifts will open at 9am and 10am respectively. Unfortunately it looks like all three lifts over at Hanazono are affected by the winds and not moving. It's snowing at the moment still and the wind is really blowing it around. This means of course that there will again be places where there's pretty deep new snow and others with more icy conditions. So very likely variable conditions out on the slopes today. Take care. Tomorrow should be calmer but some potentially very special conditions are forecast for Thursday and Friday, possibly into Saturday, with some heavy snowfall due. Fingers crossed the wind doesn't mess us about at the same time! Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -9C, 15cm of broken particle snow and notable development of snowdrifts. Moiwa 800m: NW15m/s, -15C, snowy with strong wind, bad visibility and newly formed snowdrifts are unstable. Annupuri peak: NW27.9m/s, -17.6C. Coastal data: NW20m/s, 3.2m and 1013hPa. Northwesterly storm is covering the Niseko area. According to all data, snowfall transition and observations, the avalanche risk is very high in leeward steep slopes, knolls and cornice slopes of all Niseko range. The Feb 4th layer and the newly formed slabs on top are very unstable, and although the slab's thickness differ from locations, surface slab slides of up to 60cm thickness are likely to occur in 800m leeward slopes. Most avalanche related accidents happen during or just after storms. The weather is forecasted to calm down, however hazards remain high for a while. All gates above 800m will be closed during the morning. Please follow the ski patrol's instructions. Do not duck ropes to access the out of bounds areas. The snow in the trees is little heavy but has been reset and in good condition. Beware of falling into cracks, hitting trees and frostbites. Have a nice & safe day. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Tuesday 5th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1006cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 67 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 27cm reported on 3 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 5cm Snowfall at base this season 1011cm Weather overview Fine Wind Calm Temperature -7C base / -14C top Visibility Very good Posted at 8:53am on Wednesday 6th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Later on in the morning yesterday a few more lifts did open up but the top ones remained closed with the strong winds persisting. This meant for some rather long queues for the lifts that remained open at times. I'm glad to be able to report a much calmer morning here in Niseko. Wind speeds of between 2m/s and 6m/s reported from around the mountain, so all the lifts should be open as planned this morning. With the snow until yesterday and the 5cm or so of fresh snow to add to that at village level, there should be some decent conditions up there this morning. As reported below, Gates 2 & 3 are scheduled to open at 10:30am this morning. Earlier clouds have been clearing and as I write the report now the sun is shining through the window. Looks like it is going to be a fine day. Snow should be back in style from tomorrow and hopefully through into the weekend. Would be good, so let's hoping! Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -11C, light dusts overnight, surface hoar and calm morning. Moiwa 800m: 15cm of crystal snow, WNW5m/s, -9C, snowdrifts are packed and break in large chunks. Annupuri peak: NW7.8m/s, -14.3C. Coastal data: WNW4m/s, 0.6m waves and 1017hPa. A high-pressure system overlaying and the weather is calm. The snowpack is stable and the general avalanche risk is low. Gates 2 & 3 are scheduled to open at 10:30am. Always keep in mind that outside the gates is outside the resort management. Listen to the ski patrols advice before stepping out of bounds. According to observations, the new snowdrifts are stable, however the cornices and slabs around 800m altitude are likely to collapse largely if strongly stimulated. Pick your route carefully. The cracks have been hidden with the last snowfall and are hard to notice from above. Be careful not to fall in them. Always remain in controllable speed and beware of hitting trees. Hazards of 80cm thick surface slab slides are still present in 1000m big open slopes during the morning. It is strongly advised not to remain in valley bottoms and not to stimulate cornices and knolls. Have a nice day. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Wednesday 6th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1011cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 68 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 32cm reported on 4 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 20cm Snowfall at base this season 1031cm Weather overview Cloudy, some blue sky Wind Varied Temperature -3C base / -9C top Visibility Good Posted at 9:23am on Friday 8th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Around 20cm of fresh snowfall to report this morning from Niseko. The Avalanche Report below is reporting up to 40cm in places I see. It's not as windy as well today and while there's a moderate wind here at base, it seems that all the lifts on the mountain are going to be open as scheduled. The only exception I can see right now is the top Hanazono lift which is operating at reduced speed. With the fresh snowfall, it has probably been a rush to get on the first lifts to access that new snow. Unfortunately, I'm sat here writing this report - but I'm happy for the people up there now! It has been a cloudy start to the day but actually now the sun is out and there is an increasing amount of blue sky up there. It may well not last though as the forecasts have snow and windier conditions lined up for later on in the day, so it looks like things might change fairly quickly. Another reason to get on those early lifts. A fairly calm day tomorrow with cloud and snow showers on the current forecast. We have a three day weekend coming up as Monday is a holiday in Japan. Sunday is also the Chinese New Year and so with lots of visitors celebrating that event, Niseko is heading into possibly the busiest week of the season. Expect some crowds! Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -5C, 20cm of broken particles snow, mild wind with moderate development of snowdrifts. Moiwa 800m: NE5m/s, 30cm snowfall and the snowdrifts are unstable. Annupuri peak: SSW5.9m/s, -11.6C. Coastal data: SSE5m/s, 1.3m waves and 993hPa. Feb 7-8th low-pressure snowfall has left 40cm of snow (mixed graupels) in 800m slopes. Wind affected (20m/s) snowdrifts has developed in leeward slopes and formed unstable slabs. The avalanche risk is high in 800-1100m leeward slopes in the Backbowl & Osawa SE facing slopes and Higashione. Loose snow avalanche are also likely to occur in steep slopes in the trees or under lift lines. Gates 2 & 3 will be closed and other gates still to be determined. Another storm is forecasted to pick up again before noon. In Niseko, where so many people ski/ride the out of bounds area, one avalanche triggered in the upper section will easily burry a number of people at the bottom. We have no choice but to be conservative in the gates opening. The habit of traversing across the whole Backbowl just to access a short steep section of the west-face or Mikaeri must stop. Guides/leaders must stop taking guests & beginners to this route and showing a bad example. Leading a group across a slope just under cornices is pure foolishness and terrible manner. The freedom to ski/ride the out of bounds area in Niseko is only sustainable by having people accepting and respecting the Niseko Rules. Beware!! Most accidents occur during and just after storms. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Friday 8th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1031cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 69 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 52cm reported on 5 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 10cm Snowfall at base this season 1076cm Weather overview Cloudy, light snow Wind OK Temperature -9C base / -14C top Visibility Good Posted at 9:06am on Sunday 10th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here So yesterday was the first day of the long weekend and it was busy. Lots and lots of people. Only to be expected though. I was in last night with a bit of a cold but I have heard that it was a particularly lively night out in Hirafu. Hopefully you remembered to book a table at your fave restaurant well in advance! Anyway, yes, the excellent snow conditions made up for the crowds (maybe). But it was really great yesterday. This morning we have up to 10cm of new snow to report and it is a cold start to the day. -9 degrees now with a low up top of -14 being reported by Niseko Grand Hirafu as of just after 7:30am. Overnight temperatures were down to minus sixteen. There's not much of a wind either and so lifts on the mountain are all planned to be running as normal. An overcast kind of look of things over towards Mt Yotei, but we have blue skies over the Niseko mountains with just a few white fluffy clouds hanging around. The sun is shining down. It will be another good day. Perhaps some snow showers later on and into tomorrow morning, but nothing major is forecast for the moment. Happy Chinese New Year! Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -12C, 15cm of crystal snow in the past 12 hours and calm morning. Moiwa 800m: W3m/s, no development of snowdrifts, clear sky and -15C. Annupuri peak: SW1.1m/s, -16.4C. Coastal data: SW2m/s, 0.8m waves and 1014hPa. The atmospheric pressure isobars are spaced out and the weather is calm. There are no notable developments of snowdrifts, the snowpack is stable and the general avalanche risk is low. Peak gates are scheduled to open at 10am. Although the snowpack is mostly stable, possibilities of surface slab avalanches (from Feb 7th low-pressure snowfall layer) are still to be considered in leeward slopes of Kozannosawa (Backbowl), Osawa, Mikaeri bowl and Higashione. A 120cm slab slide has been observed yesterday. Better not stimulate knolls and upper areas of open steep slopes. Do not traverse under cornices; if an avalanche is triggered, it might kill everyone skiing at the bottom. Always avoid the valley bottoms when skiing out of the valleys and do not stop until you reach a safe zone. Surface slab avalanches runs down and along the valley bottom at high speed (>100km/h). Always keep in mind that skiing out of bounds involves great dangers. Ask the ski patrol's advice and be well prepared before stepping out of the gates. Beware of cracks, as they are difficult to see from above. Have a nice day. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Sunday 10th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1076cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 71 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 97cm reported on 7 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 35cm Snowfall at base this season 1066cm Weather overview Cloudy, light snow Wind Varied Temperature -6C base / -11C top Visibility Fair Posted at 8:02am on Saturday 9th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Another 30-40cm of new snowfall this morning in Niseko in the base village area to report, so we can expect more than that up on the slopes. I like it when we get back to reporting big numbers and it was great to see the snow really coming down from last night. Grand Hirafu now up to 440cm official snow depth. There's less wind as well this morning and so while it is still early I would expect the lifts to be moving as normal. It's a good job because there'll be plenty of people out there. As I mentioned yesterday, today is the first day of a three day long weekend here in Japan as Monday is National Foundation Day. So there should be lots of Japanese people enjoying the long weekend and also visitors enjoying the Chinese New Year. Race you to the lifts! Currently it is cloudy with light snow falling and about -6 degrees. Snow might ease later on and light snow showers forecast for tomorrow, hopefully remaining calm. It should be a very good one. Very easy to get excited on a day like today but keep in mind the potential dangers out there and I hope you can enjoy it. Take care! Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -6C, 30cm of broken particles snow and graupels with development of snowdrifts. Moiwa 800m: heady snowdrift development, unstable, -10C. Annupuri peak: NW15.8m/s, -14.3C. Coastal data: NW13m/s, 2.3m waves and 1013hPa. 24hours of storm (20m/s wind and heavy snowfall) made cornices and heavily wind-affected snowdrifts develop drastically in leeward slopes. The conditions are extremely unstable and the avalanche risk is very high in the Niseko range and the surrounding peaks. All open steep slopes, leeward knolls and cornice slopes above treeline are likely to slide with 80+cm thickness. The weather is calming down however the wind is still blowing relatively strong as the isobars spacing is still tight, delaying the stabilization process. Gate 2 & 3 will be closed, other gates will also be kept closed at least during the morning. Please respect the ski patrol’s instructions. Most avalanche accidents occur during or just after storms. The snow in the trees is good but heavy and easy to loose control. Better not count too much on the performance of the gears, be reasonable and think safety first. Beware of over-speeding, hitting trees, falling into cracks and creeks. The mountain conditions will turn better soon. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Saturday 9th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1066cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 70 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 87cm reported on 6 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 0cm Snowfall at base this season 1011cm Weather overview Cloudy Wind Moderate Temperature -4C base / -10C top Visibility Fair Posted at 8:47am on Thursday 7th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Good morning from Niseko. 0cm of fresh snow this morning. A cloudy start to the day. It's about -4 degrees here in the Hirafu village area. There's a moderate wind as well this morning which might mean lifts are affected again today. Early on the top lifts at all four ski resorts on the mountain are on hold, as well as the Niseko Gondola at Niseko Village. If conditions improve they might get moving, though the forecast is for the wind to continue and for snow to be falling soon. This is just my personal observation but it does seem to me that this season we have been affected by wind more than usual... So, the snow should be falling soon and hopefully continue through into the weekend. Here's hoping for a good amount of fresh snow to report soon. It seems that yesterday a group of people were ascending Mt Yotei and encountered an avalanche, as mentioned in the Avalance Report this morning. Details are sketchy but apparently one member of the group has a broken femur (now in hospital) and happily there were no fatalities. Yotei is of course not a ski resort area and so you are on your own. It could very probably have been much worse. Another reminder of the real risks and potential dangers. Take care out there. Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -7C, no snowfall and calm morning. Moiwa 800m: -7C, no snowfall and no snowdrift development. Annupuri peak: S21.0m/s, -12.5C. Coastal data: SSE8m/s, 1008hPa, calm ocean. A strong southerly wind is blowing in high altitude and the weather will come in later this morning. According to all data, the general avalanche risk is low. However gate 3 will be closed due to high winds. Other gates are yet determined, please respect the ski patrol's decisions. Although the avalanche risk is low, the mountain is tracked out, beware of tracks and carefully remain in control. An avalanche accident has occured in Mt. Yotei's Makkari (south) face yesterday. Details not available. Skiing/riding skills will not prevent accidents; in Winter Mountains touring, the leader/guides responsibility consciousness in the decision-making process is extremely important. Avalanches will happen when the conditions allow, and becomes an accident if a person is involved in it. Cautious assessment of the existing risks is required whether in lift-access or hike-access backcountry. Don’t be overconfident of your skills and experiences. The groomers are hard but nice and fast. Have a nice day. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Thursday 7th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1011cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 68 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 32cm reported on 4 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 0cm Snowfall at base this season 1096cm Weather overview Overcast but bright Wind Light Temperature -8C base / -11C top Visibility Good Posted at 9:20am on Wednesday 13th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Good morning from Niseko. And what a fine morning it is as well. Calm. There's no new snow to report this morning in village and just a slight snowfall since yesterday on the mountain. Actually not much to report really this morning. It's a bright but overcast kind of start to the day with the sun trying to break through. We could even end up with clear blue skies I reckon, though the forecast for the day is generally cloudy conditions. The summit of Mt Yotei is currently covered in cloud. Light snow showers on and off over the next few days seems to be what we have in store. Right now it is -7 degrees here. Hope you have a fun day. Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -12C, no snowfall, calm morning. Moiwa 800m:-14C, light dusts and no development of snowdrifts. Annupuri peak: SW1.3m/s, -14.3C. Coastal data: SSE4m/s, calm ocean, 1018hPa. No notable snowfall and development of snowdrifts in the past 12 hours. Avalanche risk is low according to all data and observations. Many tracks all over the mountain, but the snow is still in good quality. Peak gates are scheduled to open at 9:30am. Crossing boundary ropes is prohibited and entering strictly off-limits areas is forbidden. The freedom and minimum safety of out of bounds riding in Niseko is barely protected by having everyone respect the Niseko Rules. Never enter Yunosawa and Harunotaki for any reasons. Ignorantly following unknown tracks might lead you straying far away from the resort. Get a map at lift stations so you can spot where you are. Bear in mind that outside the ropes is outside the resort responsibilities, be conscious of the hazards, know your limits and go out at your own risk. Beware of hitting trees and falling into cracks. Cracks are the result of the slope releasing its own tension and will not necessarily trigger a slide, however can involve serous consequences when falling into them. Ride carefully. Many dangers are lurking in winter mountains. Have a nice day. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Wednesday 13th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1096cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 73 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 117cm reported on 9 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 10cm Snowfall at base this season 1086cm Weather overview Cloudy, light snow Wind OK Temperature -7C base / -13C top Visibility Variable Posted at 9:01am on Monday 11th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Just a thin layer of light snow to report since yesterday in Niseko. I'm pretty sure earlier on when I got up it was clear out there, but it's actually snowing now. Conditions can change really quickly. (Or perhaps I was imagining it!?) The forecast seems to be snow showers on and off for the day and indeed tomorrow as well. It's coming down pretty good right at this moment though and visibility right now is fairly poor on the slopes. Temps about same as yesterday and wind isn't affecting lifts apart from the Hanazono Number 3 and also the King Number 3 lift at Niseko Grand Hirafu operating at reduced speed. Possibly clearing up tomorrow and particularly on Wednesday, but it should stay cold. JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency) snow fall numbers for Kutchan Town update time. So far in February 2013, 57cm has been recorded in Kutchan town. The total number for February last season was 216cm and the season before was 142cm. Let's see how that turns out come the end of the month. Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -12C, light snowfall, calm morning. Moiwa 800m: mild wind, no development of snowdrifts and -14C. Annupuri 1308m: SW3.5m/s, -16.3C. Coastal data: S4m/s, 0.8m waves and 1009hPa. Looking at the past 12 hours weather transition, data and observations, the snowdrift development is small and the general avalanche risk is low. Peak gates are scheduled to open at 9:30. Listen to the ski patrol's advice before stepping out the gates. Avalanches are not the only dangers in winter mountains. Be prudent and better not overestimate your gears and your skills. Wind and snow is forecasted to pick up in areas above 800m as the low-pressure system passes. Visibility will turn bad. Do not duck ropes to access the out of bounds area. Strictly off-limits areas, Harunotaki and Yunosawa, are closed for a good reason, do not go in there for any reason. The Niseko Rules only exists to protect the freedom and the minimum safety of out of bounds riding. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Monday 11th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1086cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 72 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 107cm reported on 8 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 10cm Snowfall at base this season 1096cm Weather overview Cloud, light snow Wind Light Temperature -7C base / -11C top Visibility Fair Posted at 8:44am on Tuesday 12th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here This morning we have another 10cm of fresh snow to add to that tally. Freshly fallen earlier on this morning and temperatures are nice and cold so snow conditions on the resort slopes should be great this morning. Yes, I know that's hardly news... ;) It has calmed down since earlier on and now there's just a slight breeze but it is snowing at the moment. Forecasts seem to be saying that the snow won't last long and we're due for a generally cloudy day in Kutchan and Niseko and perhaps more of the same tomorrow. The sun make make appearances as well. All resorts open as normal today. We're still in peak season of course, but things should generally be quieter today now that the long weekend if over. I think it's time to get out there and enjoy it. Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -8C, 5cm of crystal snow. Moiwa 800m: westerly wind and heavy snowfall since pre-dawn, no development of snowdrifts. Annupuri peak: NW5.2m/s, -13.5C. Coastal data: WNW11m/s, 0.8m waves and 1023hPa. A strong snowfall since pre-dawn has reset the snow surface above and below treeline. The isobars are spaced out, the wind is mild and there are no notable development of snowdrifts. The general avalanche risk is low. Gates 2 & 3 are scheduled to open at 10am. Listen to the ski patrol’s advise before stepping out of the gates. Ride carefully as the snowfall is heavy and the visibility is bad in the morning. Better not stimulate knolls and cornices, possibilities of slides from deeper layers are always present. Refrain from traversing steep slopes and riding the same slope at once. Skiing or resting at the valley bottoms should also be avoided. Beware of falling into cracks. Always use gates to access the out of bounds area. Never duck ropes. The snow is good today. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Tuesday 12th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1096cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 73 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 117cm reported on 9 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 10cm Snowfall at base this season 1151cm Weather overview Cloud, snow Wind Moderate to strong Temperature -4C base / -7C top Visibility Poor Posted at 9:02am on Saturday 16th February 2013 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Another 10cm or so of fresh snow to report from Niseko this morning, more in places. Looking out of my window here, looks like a complete white-out situation. Can't see a thing! Webcams are all showing very poor visibility this morning as well, so got to watch out where you're going. Windy on the mountain as well this morning. Niseko Annupuri is reporting wind speeds of up to 18m/s, Niseko Village up to 14m/s. Niseko Grand Hirafu wind speeds of between 5m/s on lower areas and 10m/s at the top. Guess what I'm going to say next? ;) Yes, the wind is affecting some lifts. It's not actually too bad here in the village area, but here's a rundown of how things look on the mountain at 9am: Niseko Annupuri: Jumbo Number 1, Family, Jumbo Number 2 operating. Annupuri Gondola, Jumbo 3 and Jumbo 4 top lifts not moving due to wind and poor visibility. Niseko Village: The lower Banzai, Community and Morino Chairs are moving. Niseko Gondola and top Wonderland Chair not moving. Niseko Grand Hirafu: Top lifts not moving (Ace 4, Ace 3, King 3, King 4, Swinging Monkey). Ace Number 2 Center Four operating at reduced speed. Niseko Hanazono: Top lift not moving, the other two at reduced speed. Avalanche Information Niseko base 6am: -12C, 20cm of broken & crystal snow. Moiwa 800m: -13C, strong westerly wind with snow, developing snowdrifts. Annupuri peak: NW10.8m/s, -15.3C. Coastal data: NW16m/s, 2m waves and 1007hPa. The wind and snowfall has picked up during the night due to winter pressure pattern and snowdrifts have been developing drastically. The avalanche risk is high and rising. Potential sliding scale up to 60cm thickness in 800m SE facing knolls; the developing slabs are extremely unstable and could collapse/slide with the slightest stimulation. Potential trigger layer is Feb 15th’s facets layer. The avalanche hazard level depends on how the snow fell, not how much it snowed. No matter what layers are present; the avalanche risk will be high in leeward steep slopes in a stormy day. The snow in the trees is heavy but good. Visibility is bad. Beware of loosing track or falling into cracks. Peak gates will be closed. Others to be determined; please respect the ski patrol’s decision. Still plenty of powder left in and around the courses. Do not duck ropes to seek fresh lines. Have a safe day. The snow condition is constantly changing every day. Niseko Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Saturday 16th February 2013 Total snowfall at base so far 1151cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 76 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 45cm (27th January) November 2012 snowfall 118cm reported on 11 days December 2012 snowfall 418cm reported on 27 days January 2013 snowfall 443cm reported on 26 days February 2013 snowfall 172cm reported on 12 days Previous report Next report All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report. SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for. About SnowJapan.com About the daily reporting on SnowJapan.com