There's not a whole lot of new snow to report this morning, I think 5cm is a fair number for round here at base but that wind we have been having has been blowing it all around and generally being really annoying. Grrrrr.

Yesterday, the Ace Number 2 Center Four lift got moving just before 9am, but Swinging Monkey and Ace Number 3 didn't get moving at the beginning of the day and from about 10am Hanazono had all three of it's lifts closed.

Looks like some disruption to lifts again this morning (noted below), but lets keep fingers crossed that the wind might calm later in the day today. The forecasts gives us a bit of hope for that. With avalanche risk high, it looks like most gates will be closed.

It is cloudy just now - looks like it might be snowing up there - and quite mild with the temperature here around 0 degrees. Forecasts do indeed give us the chance of light snow during the day.

OK, so from tomorrow things look set to calm down good and proper. In fact, from tomorrow right through until the weekend the forecast seems to be lots of sunny conditions, calm, relatively mild and no (or little) snowfall likely.

Just as long as the snow is back soon, I think we can all enjoy some of that. Cameras at the ready!

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SnowJapan are going to be putting a brand new page up online very soon and I have heard that it will perhaps be sometime this week. I think that everyone reading this report will find it very interesting indeed. I will be sure to mention it here when once it 'goes live', as they say.

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Resort specific news as of 8:30am - subject to change during the day

Niseko Grand Hirafu:
Ace Number 3 and 4, King Number 3 and 4, Swinging Monkey lifts on hold early on due to strong wind

Niseko Hanazono:
Top Hanazono Number 3 lift on hold early on due to strong wind

Niseko Village:
Niseko Gondola and top Wonderland lift on hold early on due to strong wind

Niseko Annupuri:
Annupuri Gondola and top Jumbo 4 lift on hold early on due to strong wind

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Niseko Avalanche Report

Niseko base 6am: -2C, 50cm snowdrift deposit in 12 hours. Moiwa 800m: NNW12m/s, -8C, large developent of dense snowdrifts. Annupuri 1000m: -7C, N15m/s with gusts, large development of snowdrifts and cornices, snowpack 320cm. Hirafu 1000m: N15m/s, -7C, large development of snowdrifts in some areas. Benkei cape NNE9m/s, Kamui cape E5m/s, 1013hPa, 3.2m waves.

Snowdrifts and cornices have largely developed overnight. New slabs thickness have exceeded 150cm in 800m leeward knolls and are extremely unstable, likely to widely slide with a 60cm crown. The avalanche risk in Niseko and the surrounding peaks is extremely high, most gates will be kept closed today. Better not fully rely on quick and easy pit-checks for decision making, a slab that may look stable could let go and cause a fatal slide. Many cases of backcountry touring accidents in surrounding peaks are being reported. It’s a bit of a shame to get injured while playing in the mountains. Never overestimate your knowledge/skills or underestimate the hazards of winter mountains. We only hope that no Niseko residents/visitors is involved in a fatal accident. Have a safe day.

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Official resort snow depths:

Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 390cm
Base - 140cm

Niseko Village:
Top - 300cm
Base - 190cm

Niseko Annupuri:
Top - 340cm
Base - 200cm

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Lifts open for night skiing (planned):

Niseko Grand Hirafu
Ace Family Pair lift, Ace Number 2 Center Four lift, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Number 1 Pair lift

Niseko Hanazono Resort
No night skiing at the Hanazono area

Niseko Village
Community Chair and Banzai Chair

Niseko Annupuri
Jumbo Number 1 Quad

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Niseko Grand Hirafu 6 day weather and snow forecast