Snow! Good morning from a Hakuba that has received a decent layer of new snow (10-15cm lower down) and in places considerably more. Check out the numbers from Cortina again who continue to impress with a whopping 65cm of fresh snow being reported by that resort in places - unfortunately at the time of writing many of the fun courses over there are not open but that may change later on (check with the resort if you are keen).

It was snowing earlier on this morning still but has eased off somewhat now in lower areas. It's a very cold -6 degrees at base today and considerably colder up top as well, so you'll need to be wrapped up good. Visibility isn't too bad looking round the resorts considering the conditions and while there's always the chance of some wind causing problems with issues, things seem pretty smooth at the moment. Goryu delayed the opening of their Gondola and top lifts but they are moving now.

Those sticking around for tomorrow should be in for a treat as it looks like we can expect bright and sunny skies so it will be a real contrast with today. Actually it looks like we will see a few days of clear conditions and then warmer temperatures come Wednesday and Thursday.

Have fun if you go to the Happo Fire Festival tonight (details posted yesterday). And indeed, if you don't too!

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Official snow depths and operations @ Saturday 18th February 2012 AM:

Hakuba Goryu:
Hakuba Goryu is reporting 10-25cm of new snowfall this morning. The Gondola and Alps Daira lifts were delayed but opened just before 9:30am. All lifts operating.
Official snow depths:
Alps daira - 335cm;
Toomi - 185cm;
Iimori - 150cm

Hakuba 47:
Hakuba 47 is reporting 15cm of new snowfall this morning. All open.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 250cm
Lower - 150cm

Happo-one:
Ski lifts/courses:
All lifts apart from Happo No1 pair and Kurobishi No3 pair lifts operating.
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira - 210cm;
Sakka - 140cm;
Nakiyama - 110cm.

Tsugaike Kogen:
Official snow depth:
Upper slopes - 280cm
Champion - 170cm

Hakuba Cortina:
Look here! Corting saying they got 50cm on lower slopes and 65cm of fresh snow on upper slopes by this morning. Now won't that be fun! No4 and No5 lifts not moving at time of writing this and many of the courses not open either as they deal with the new deposit. Possibly open up more later on.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 410cm
Lower - 270cm

Hakuba Norikura:
Official snow depth:
190cm

Hakuba Iwatake:
Official snow depth:
Upper - 190cm
Lower - 120cm

Hakuba Sanosaka:
165cm

Hakuba Minekata:
110cm