No new snow to report again this morning from the area, other than a light dusting. It is snowing lightly at the moment and snow is forecast for today, so hopefully I will have fresh numbers to report tomorrow morning.

In the meantime it's not as cold as it has been - though still well below zero - and calm.

Runs were really tracked out yesterday and with the lack of fresh snow overnight again it's going to be a similar story this morning. As the report below says, probably a day for groomers.

(I will readily admit to being spoilt being based in Niseko - we expect powder every day and instant refreshes! And often get it of course. To not have that is just... annoying!)

It does look like this week ahead should remain fairly cold but isn't looking like we can expect huge amounts of snowfall unfortunately. As the forecasts stand now, there's more sun lined up than snow.

We will of course just have to see how it turns out.

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Niseko Avalanche Report

Niseko base 6am: -8C, no new snow in the last12hrs, calm. Moiwa 800m: -13C, wind N5m/s. trace new snow. Annupuri 1150m -14C, wind N10m/s, no new snow. Hirafu 1000m -9C, no new snow. Annupuri peak 1308m: -12.4C, WNNW11.4m/s. Cape Benkei: NW6m/s, Cape Kamui: ESE2m/s, wave 0.5m, pressure 1014hpa.

There is no significant pressure gradient and both ocean and mountain are calm. Without any significant snow cloud over the Sea of Japan we cannot expect any snowfall. Off piste is tracked out and a little difficult to ride. Today is a good day for carving the groomers.

Do not duck ropes. If one person ducks a rope, others will follow increasing the chances we will have an accident. Peak gates are expected to open this morning. Please listen to the patrols advice before exiting the gates. There are many other dangers on the mountain besides avalanches. Take care hitting trees, crashing into cracks and cornice collapse. Outside the gates is not the ski area, there is no patrol. Have a nice day.

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Official snow depth numbers and lift news at time of writing:

Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 375cm
Base - 195cm

Niseko Village:
Top - 350cm
Base - 230cm

Annupuri:
Top - 305cm
Base - 220cm