Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 3cm Snowfall at base this season 973cm Posted on Monday 21st March 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Good morning from Niseko. And I have a bit more snow to report this morning. 3cm of it according to my measuring stick, all of it coming down apparently early morning so it's as fresh as can be. It was still snowing earlier on but has been clearing up and there's now an increasing amount of blue skies to be seen and the sun is shining down. It feels like it is going to be a fine day, even if the forecast doesn't promise much in the way of sun. Keeping quite cold as well which is good, currently just under zero. It's the last nighta of the season this evening. Always a bit sad to talk about things closing, but then again the lifts during the day are scheduled to continue until early May so there's still a lot of the season left. I think I am right in saying that many (most) Japanese don't know what Easter is, and they certainly don't have it as a holiday here. Having said that there will be more overseas guests here over the coming week (I think) for that particular holiday. Hope that the weather and snow co-operates for you all! Hopefully we'll get a bit of light snowfall at times during the week. --- Niseko Avalanche Report: Niseko base 6am: -4℃, 3cm snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -7℃, 5cm snowfall, light wind and no snowdrift development. Annupuri 1000m snowpack 310cm. Hirafu peak ridge: -10℃, light snowfall. Coastal data Benkei cape: N9m/s, Kamui cape: N4m/s, 1016hPa, 1.1m waves. A weak winter pressure pattern has brought 3-10cm of new snow this morning. Wind stayed calm and snowdrift development is minimal. Shallow surface slab slides are to be expected in steep slopes of all elevation, please be careful. Even smallest of avalanches are powerful enough and should not be underestimated. Do not rest on top of cornices as they could collapse far beyond expectations. The cracks are getting larger and new ones are forming on a daily basis. Always keep in mind of them before dropping in a slope. Stay away from valley bottoms as in order to avoid giant spring slides. Full depth avalanches are extremely destructive and run through a very long distance. Listen to the ski patrol’s instructions before stepping out of the gates. Peak gates are scheduled to open today. Just a thin blanket of new snow on top of bumpy hard snow, take it easy and have a nice day. Niseko Now 2015-2016 season Data as of Monday 21st March 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 973cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 79 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (17th February) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 303cm reported on 26 days February 2016 snowfall 266cm reported on 22 days March 2016 snowfall 99cm reported on 10 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 1cm Snowfall at base this season 978cm Posted on Thursday 24th March 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Good morning from Niseko and it's an early report from me today as I need to get myself to Sapporo this morning. This morning there is a lot of blue sky around and some white clouds hanging around too, and as I write the sun is out... it's a fine morning. The forecasts do still insist that there's some chance of a bit of snow though so things may well change. Similar conditions are forecast for tomorrow as well. Oh yes, there's 1cm of snow on the ground too. Things look like they'll probably be pretty dry from the weekend onwards and maybe quite a lot of sunshine and things starting to warm up around Tuesday. --- Niseko Avalanche Report: Niseko base 6am: -1℃, 2cm snowfall, clear sky. Moiwa 838m: -6.1℃, E10m/s. Annupuri 1000m snowpack 310cm. Hirafu peak ridge: -11℃, mild wind and sprinkles of snow. Benkei cape: NE7m/s. Kamui cape: NNE6m/s, 1015hPa, 2.3m waves. A moderate easterly wind persisted until early morning and made some snowdrifts develop in areas above treeline. The temperature in higher elevation is also much lower than the base. Surface slab avalanches of up to 10cm thickness are to be expected in open steep faces and knolls above 800m elevation. A wide area can start sliding simultaneously. Habits of riding the valley bottoms should be changed. Better not underestimate the giant Spring slides. IF you’re caught in one, chances to survive is close to none. Carrying a short rope as a measure of safety for coming out of cracks or creeks is highly recommended. Harnesses may not be necessary, but one rope can change the whole game. The mountain condition is not bad at all. Beware of sudden weather changes and have a nice day. Spring is here, have a great day. --- Official resort snow depths as of Thursday 24th March 2016: Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono Top - 355cm Base - 125cm Niseko Village Top - 340cm Base - 130cm Niseko Annupuri Top - 360cm Base - 140cm Niseko Now 2015-2016 season Data as of Thursday 24th March 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 978cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 81 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (17th February) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 303cm reported on 26 days February 2016 snowfall 266cm reported on 22 days March 2016 snowfall 104cm 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

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido New snowfall at base 4cm Snowfall at base this season 982cm Posted on Friday 25th March 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here Good morning once again from here in Hirafu. And there's some more snow to report this morning... another 4cm here at base. Yey! The top of Mt Yotei is covered with cloud but right now we are enjoying mostly blue skies and sunshine with just a bit of other cloud here and there. Lovely morning. And that small top-up should be fun to ride on. It's calm here at the moment though some stronger winds are expected this morning. Keeping pretty chilly too. The forecast gives us the chance of light scattered snow here and there through the next couple of days (some mention rain too, hopefully we can avoid that), and then quite a lot of sunshine late weekend and early in the week when we can expect things to start warming up a bit. --- Tomorrow sees that new Hokkaido Shinkansen train line open. That line will eventually be extended through to Sapporo - with a stop planned for Kutchan as well. --- Niseko Avalanche Report: Niseko base 6am: -5℃, 1cm snowfall. Moiwa 838m: -5.6℃, E7.4m/s. Annupuri 1000m snowpack 310cm. Hirafu peak ridge -9℃, moderate wind and light snowfall. Benkei cape: NE5m/s, Kamui cape: E2m/s, 1015hPa, 1.1m waves. The atmospheric pressure grade is flat and the weather is calm at the ocean and the mountains. The wind will pick up at the isobars gets steeper. Always be ready for sudden weather changes. All gates will open. Have a nice day. --- Official resort snow depths as of Friday 25th March 2016: Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono Top - 355cm Base - 125cm Niseko Village Top - 340cm Base - 130cm Niseko Annupuri Top - 360cm Base - 130cm Niseko Now 2015-2016 season Data as of Friday 25th March 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 982cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 82 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 38cm (17th February) November 2015 snowfall 61cm reported on 4 days December 2015 snowfall 244cm reported on 17 days January 2016 snowfall 303cm reported on 26 days February 2016 snowfall 266cm reported on 22 days March 2016 snowfall 108cm reported on 13 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 Naeba region of Niigata New snowfall at base 1cm Snowfall at base this season 222cm Weather overview Cloud, light snow Wind Varied Temperature - Visibility Fair Posted on Monday 31st December 2012 This is an archived report. The latest Naeba Now report can be found here. Well, yesterday was one of the best-forgotten kind of day, and this morning we do have snow... but not a whole lot really. Just a sprinkling at base of Naeba with 5cm reported on the top of the resort and at Kagura. Heavier and wetter than the perfect kind of snow as well, but we'll take it. Snowfall is still forecast for the day, though as I am writing this I can actually see some patches of blue sky up there and the sun is trying to win through. Noooo! Snow please. That same forecast says snow for the next few days well into the week, so lets hope they get it right and we get a nice new delivery of the dry variety for new year. Have fun tonight and see you in 2013. Official resort snow depth: Naeba - 140cm Kagura - 270cm Naeba Now 2012-2013 season Data as of Monday 31st December 2012 Total snowfall at base so far 222cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 16 days Most snowfall observed on 1 day 60cm (10th December) November 2012 snowfall 3cm observed on 1 day December 2013 snowfall 219cm observed on 15 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 Naeba. 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