Welcome to March and the first day of the rest of the season. Well, that's how I always see it as the night time 'light up' operations have now finished. You can still do the nighta ski thing if you want over on the Uwanodai runs until later on this morning, but there's no more floodlit Ice Monsters up top. While still impressive looking in their own way, they are now getting past their best as we venture into March...

It's a fine start to the day in Zao with lovely blue skies, no wind and great visibility. A day for the cameras as well as the skis and boards. Not cold either and right now borderline 0 degrees - and just minus 3 up at Utopia.

A chance of some snow tomorrow but after that the weekend looks set to be fairly clear. Early next week look to temperatures in the positive and the chance of rain in the village though it should hopefully be snowing up on the mountain.

Official snow depths (1st March 12)
Utopia - 275cm
Chuo - 220cm
Paradise - 260cm
Uwanodai - 175cm

Operating lifts (1st March 12)
All Ropeways (Skycable, Zao Chuo Ropeway, Zao Ropeway) operating.
All the runs at Zao are open.