After the super warm spurt we had the last couple of days, the temperatures are dropping leading us to hopes of more snow tonight and tomorrow morning. We had a very cold day yesterday with a light wet snowfall. Many people were commenting on the icy runs yesterday as well. Now the slopes have been plowed leaving the slopes more skier-friendly today.

This morning we have a light wind with some clouds. We are predicted more snow tomorrow morning. It may be quite windy at the top today and the visibility will be poor above 1500m. Runs will be freshly groomed and the last snowfall from yesterday will leave the runs in a variety of states from top to bottom.

Colder temperatures today than yesterday with -9 measured at 1800m and -7 at 800m along with SE winds.


Travel Advisory:

Beware of cornices and avoid steep convex terrain below rock outcrops‚ areas of sparse trees and below cornices on lee slopes at all elevations. Caution as forecasted snow tonight and tomorrow will put greater load on the present weak layer on shaded aspects as well on wind loaded steep lee slopes and gullies. New snow on South faces should bond to the rough surface of the multiple point release avalanches of today but will be sliding off areas that did not slide as there will be a very hard sun crust underlying the new storm snow. Be extremely careful if the new snow falls as grauple at the on set of the storm.

Avalanche Danger will increase with the addition of new snow and increased wind.

Increased snowfall adding load to buried week layer
Radiative cooling of snow surface causing low density snow and frost at surface
Cornice fall
Extreme radiation and warming of southern exposures
Solar radiated cornices becoming weak with direct solar radiation.
Use caution if crossing solar radiated slopes.
Increased caution advised around rocky outcroppings‚ cliffs and well spaced trees in start zones.
Due caution on cross loaded slopes
Poor bonding at or around buried crust
Facet layer around buried crust
Stay away from steep and convex terrain

Danger level 3 : Considerable

Natural avalanches possible. Human triggered avalanches probable.

Danger level ratings are set for conditions at tree line and may vary from below tree line and High Alpine areas. Use this information as a guideline only.

Official resort snow depths on 25th Jan 09:
Happo-one:
65cm (Shirakaba)
85cm (Sakka/Kitaone)
210cm (Kurobishi/Usagidaira)
Hakuba Goryu:
105cm (Iimori)
105cm (Toomi)
235cm (Alps daira)
Hakuba 47:
123cm
Tsugaike Kogen:
115cm (Kanenonaruoka)
120cm (Maruyama)
230cm (Tsuganomori)
Hakuba Iwatake:
80cm (Shomen)
150cm (Sancho)
Sun Alpina Sanosaka:
105cm
Hakuba Minekata:
65cm
Hakuba Highland:
55cm

Nighta tonight is scheduled at:

Hakuba Goryu (Toomi);
Happo-one (Nakiyama);
Hakuba Cortina Kokusai (Ikenoda)