Grasshopper’s Weekly Japan Forecast, December 16 – Storm Cycle Kicks Into Gear After Slow Start

Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper

Valid Thursday 16th December to 23rd December 

Welcome to the first weekly forecast for the 2021 Japanese snow season. It has been a relatively benign start around Japan, but things are starting to kick into gear with some new snow on the ground over the past few days and what looks to be a lot more on the way over the next week. It is still early days, but the fresh snow on the way will do well to build the base for a big new year which is hopefully packed with those Japow storms we have come to know and love.

The bulk of the snow expected around Honshu will come later Friday and through Saturday as temperatures drop thanks to the arrival of a front from the Sea of Japan. Totals over Friday night have the potential to be big with 50+cm possible from Friday to over the weekend.

Up north Hokkaido is also expecting snow although it looks as if Honshu will be the winner this week. In saying that, areas of Hokkaido are looking at consistent snow with nice temps from Friday through into the next week which is a great result. Totals are looking around 20-50+cm over the next 7 days.

Thursday, Dec 16 – Friday, December 17

Low pressure sits in the west of the Sea of Japan and gradually moves onwards towards Honshu, its position promotes southwesterly winds and temps hovering just above freezing for Honshu. Up in Hokkaido there’s some flurries later on after a partly cloudy day with westerly winds. Totals shouldn’t be very much.

 We see the low move northeast and over Hokkaido later in the day on Friday. Possible rain early until the winds change for Honshu over the second half of the day with some big totals possible as temps drop. For Hokkaido temps warm a bit as the low approaches with possibly some light rain before the winds change as the low passes over, bringing cooler temps and snow through later in the day and continuing overnight.

Saturday, December 18 – Sunday, December 19

Saturday the low continues northeast off Hokkaido, north-northwesterly flow over most of Japan sees good cold temps and snow throughout the day. Snow continues up in Hokkaido with cool temps. Should be a real pow day throughout many resorts, especially in Honshu thanks to Friday snowfalls.

Predominantly westerly winds bring some more snow to Honshu with temps warming slightly from Saturday. Temps remain cool with consistent snow that through the day for Hokkaido, but it shouldn’t be too heavy.

Monday December 20 – Wednesday December 22

 The sky clears up for parts of Honshu early with some snow possible later on. Once again cloud around with some light snow through the day for Hokkaido.

Some cloud around Honshu on Tuesday with southwesterly winds and temps warming up through the afternoon to just about freezing. Cloud early with flurries for Hokkaido before the sun comes through a little bit in the afternoon, warming up with possible light precipitation overnight.

Wednesday is not ideal for Honshu with southwesterly winds bringing possibly a little bit of rain and flurries. Shouldn’t be too much precipitation. Up around Hokkaido, early precipitation should turn to snow through the day with only low totals expected.

Extended Outlook

It’s a good run of snow days around the country over the next week as the Japan snow machine starts to click into gear. Totals look to be best in Honshu with areas like Hakuba and Myoko set to do well. Hokkaido isn’t set for a bad week either, but totals shouldn’t be as large as the areas in Honshu.

I’ll keep bringing you these forecasts weekly, hopefully they are more than just light reading in a hot southern hemisphere, but help you look forward to getting out and amongst some classic Japanese powder as soon we can.

Take care and see you next Thursday