Well yesterday was interesting. While we watched some really quite heavy snow fall in many parts of Niigata, especially on the plains to the north out of the mountains, it didn't really snow all that much here. At times we even saw some clearer skies open up.

This morning seemed to have been a different story as the heavy snow were falling and just before it was coming down really fast and with some impressively big flakes. According to the local forecast we are set for snowy conditions to be with us here into the weekend basically, so it looks like we should expect some significant new cm of snow.

The strange thing is that even since I started putting this report together, the snow has stopped falling, visibility has improved dramatically and the sun is out in the Mimamiuonuma valley. Don't know where that came from, but there's every chance that it will disappear once again as quickly as it appeared. Like I said the forecast is for snow. And over at Naeba a look on the webcam shows me that the skies are clearer up there as well. So who knows - we'll just have to see how the day turns out...

Up until now this morning not a huge amount with maybe 5-10cm or so I would say in places - more to the north in Minamiuonuma.

With that rain the other day we could do with a good helping of snow before the weekend to get those snow conditions back up to where they were before. Bring it on please!

Winds are affecting operations up at Kagura this morning with the Tashiro closed for the day and only the Mitsumata Ropeway to the Kagura No1 pair lift open. That means that the Dragondola will be closed as well and perhaps a few lifts at Naeba as well. Other than that resorts seem to be open as usual around town this morning.

Official resort snow depths @ 9th February 12, AM:
Mt Naeba:
300cm
Kagura:
350cm
Kagura - Tashiro:
320cm
GALA Yuzawa:
350cm
Kandatsu Kogen:
320cm
NASPA Ski Garden:
310cm
Iwappara:
255cm
Yuzawa Kogen:
350cm
Yuzawa Park:
230cm
Yuzawa Nakazato:
270cm
Ludens Yuzawa:
300cm
----
Ishiuchi Maruyama:
300cm
Centleisure Maiko:
390cm
Joetsu Kokusai:
290cm