After the recent ridiculously sunny conditions we are now unfortunately faced with precipitation coming down in the form of rain in Hakuba. The freezing level is at 2500m and as the system passes it will continue to precipitate, easing in the afternoon and hopefully turning to light snow in the evening.

This morning it was .5 C in the valley with a (very!) high of up to 10C expected during the day. Up on the slopes it will range from 2 C to 5 C down low and 0 C to -4 C up high. Winds are breezy and coming from the WSW and WNW.

This particular weather system should make its way past us by the end of the day as lower freezing levels and clearer weather is expected by tomorrow. By Friday night we should see a mini weather system dropping off some snow to start the rejuvenation process. Fingers crossed folks! The weekend is calling for more snow accumulation and clearings into next week, though it doesn't look like we can expect anything major.

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Avalanche Danger: HIGH

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

Slab avalanches in the Alpine will come with great size and consequence.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.
Slab avalanches in the Alpine will come with great size and consequence.
RAIN on the snow pack is putting rapid load on the already heavy wind affected slopes at Tree Line and warming may mean that Alpine slopes will also receive rain as the day goes on. This added weight may trigger large slabs in these wind affected areas. Lower slopes will see wet loose avalanches start immediately and continue through the duration of the rain showers. Glide cracks may open wider or slide to the ground as water runs between the ground and snow above.

Travel outside of the ski resorts is not advised during the rain storm and until temperatures cool below freezing for long enough to stabilize the now wet snow pack. New snow at elevation will also be unstable and produce new surface instability and loose avalanches.

The temps in the valley are hovering right around freezing level and should turn back into snow hopefully very soon and looks like we will have fresh powder for the weekend!

It's still a great day to enjoy the onsens of the Northern Japan Alps or go in search of Monkeys and cultural sites!

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Official snow depths and operations @ Thursday 23rd February 2012 AM:

Hakuba Goryu:
No new snowfall early this morning. All lifts operating.
Official snow depths:
Alps daira - 300cm;
Toomi - 185cm;
Iimori - 145cm

Hakuba 47:
Hakuba 47 seem to be reporting new snowfall again, up to 5cm up top. All courses open (Line D lift not operating weekdays).
Official snow depth:
Upper - 235cm
Lower - 120cm

Happo-one:
Ski lifts/courses:
All lifts apart from Usagidaira pair, Central pair and Kita One No3 pair lifts should be operating today.
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira - 190cm;
Sakka - 100cm;
Nakiyama - 90cm.

Tsugaike Kogen:
Official snow depth:
Upper slopes - 260cm
Champion - 190cm

Hakuba Cortina:
No new snow overnight in Cortina. All courses apart from Giant course open early on (No 7 pair lift closed weekdays).
Official snow depth:
Upper - 360cm
Lower - 230cm

Hakuba Norikura:
Official snow depth:
190cm

Hakuba Iwatake:
Official snow depth:
Upper - 175cm
Lower - 105cm

Hakuba Sanosaka:
155cm

Hakuba Minekata:
90cm