Good morning from Niseko. It's a bit warmer but there are plenty of spots with good, fresh, deep snow around. Yesterday, we saw periods of heavy snow with some sun later on in the afternoon. The snow was a bit heavier than your normal light/dry Niseko powder, but it was still really fun to ski.

Rusutsu saw a bit more snow than Niseko which made it a little deeper over there.

As the avalanche report states, there is some avalanche danger out there. Mizu no sawa and yu no sawa are very rarely going to slide big enough to move anyone. However, with the combination of factors we have it apparently slid. These areas are off limits and probably not stabilized. Please keep in mind what the previous reports say about south facing slopes greater than 30-35 degrees if you are thinking of riding the areas. Backcountry travel is still a bit sketchy with the amount of wind loading we have had and should be judged on a case by case basis.

The local forecast is still a bit undetermined (for a change!). We are looking at some heavy snow (both in terms of density and rate) on Saturday. A system that seems to be lining itself up could just very well catapult us into April with fresh powder still. The season here in Hokkaido is definitely not over. The locals refuse to accept that it is "spring".

Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 420cm
Bottom - 200cm

Niseko Village:
Top - 450cm
Bottom - 200cm

Annupuri:
Top - 480cm
Bottom - 200cm

Niseko Avalanche Report:

Niseko base 6am: -3C, no new snowfall in the past 12 hours. Coastal data: WNW8m/s at Benkei cape, 1.8m waves and 1005hPa at Kamui cape. Annupuri peak:SSE4m/s, -8.2C. Annupuri 1000m: 480cm snowdepth.
Snowfall transition: The strong winter weather pattern has passed and the snow and wind has started to calm down at night. The snowfall in the past 12 hours is small. Wind-exposed ridgeline is frozen or crusty and snowdrifts have developed in the leeward slopes. Warm air is forecasted to flow in later on.
Hazard evaluation: The developed snowdrifts in leeward slopes are now stabilizing and the general avalanche risk is lowering. The snow in the trees below 1000m is slightly heavy but in very good condition. However, avalanche risks persist in open slopes wind heavy load of snowdrifts and highly developed cornice areas: coordinate G7-9 Higashione area, E6 Backbowl area, F5 Osawa area and D5 Mikaeri bowl area. A skier who sneaked into Yu no sawa (strictly off-limits area) has been caught in an avalanche yesterday. This person should feel grateful for his luck to come out alive and should be ashamed of his ignorance.
Gates: Peak gates are scheduled to open sometime after 9:30. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. We strongly demand everyone to respect the Niseko Rules and avoid riding valley bottoms.