Grasshopper’s Weekly Japan Forecast, February 3 – Big Powder Weekend Ahead for Honshu resorts, a Little More Subdued for Hokkaido
Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper
It’s been an interesting week throughout the Japanese resorts with some areas over performing based on last week’s outlook while others have underperformed.
Niseko managed to score slightly over one metre from the last seven days, a great result with some consistent pow days running from the 28thto the 31stand some snow recorded every day. Further south Myoko once again came up big with 159cm from the last week. From the 28thto the 31stMyoko saw 41cm, 31cm and 32cm respectively, making for some great conditions. Elsewhere, Nozawa had a nice week with slightly under a metre but Hakuba was more subdued with only 44cm coming from the last seven days (a little more in some of the surrounding resorts) including 10cm overnight.
For the week ahead areas of Honshu look to be again in the firing line for some big falls heading into and through the weekend while Niseko can expect some consistent falls of its own as well.
Forecast
Thursday, Feb 3- Friday Feb 4
Gusty northwesterlies throughout a cloudy, snowy day around Honshu. Light falls throughout the day getting heaviest through the evening. Totals vary around 8-30+cm in parts. For Hokkaido cloudy with snow throughout and moderate westerlies. Totals 8-14cm.
After productive overnight snowfalls around Honshu the stage should be set for a pow day on Friday with a partly cloudy and snowy day once again kicking into gear through the evening. Totals 12-35cm. Some light consistent snow continues for Hokkaido, around 3-10cm.
Saturday, Feb 5 – Sunday Feb 6.
Snow continues through the early morning around the central and northern Honshu continues adding to the overnight accumulation and isn’t expected to stop, setting up for a classic day, although winds will be gusty, mainly northerlies. Totals vary by model and location from around 20cm to well over 40cm in some parts of Honshu. Another cloudy, snowy day around Hokkaido with totals around 7-20cm in parts.
After a big Saturday we are expecting more snow around Honshu on Sunday with the heaviest falls in the morning and slowing down through the evening. Totals 14-30cm. Snow again for Hokkaido slightly less productive than Saturday. Totals around 5-15cm.
Monday, Feb 7 – Wednesday Feb 9
Things finally relax a little around Honshu with the sun due to make an appearance on Monday. Some flurries are expected through the day but shouldn’t amount to much, but there should still be plenty of freshies around to enjoy thanks to a good few days. The sun should also make a brief appearance in parts of Hokkaido, but the snow isn’t expected to stop with light flurries through the day and heavier stuff at night. Totals 2-8cm.
Moderate gusty westerlies with a cloudy day on Tuesday for Honshu. Some snow expected overnight but totals don’t look to be large at this stage around 5cm. A similar story to Monday for Hokkaido with the consistent light snowfalls but slowing down a little through a partly cloudy day. Totals should be under 5cm.
Some snow continues in Honshu from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and through the middle of the day. Shouldn’t be too heavy with totals around 5-10cm. Another day of flurries around Hokkaido with small totals and some sunshine at times in parts.
Extended Forecast
For the start of this week its’ all guns blazing for Honshu with sizable and consistent falls through till the end of the weekend. Friday and Saturday look to be the best with Saturday possibly being very large in some parts. Further north, once again Hokkaido doesn’t seem to get the same results. In saying this there is at least some snow forecast every day for the next week but again it’s not expected to be dumping to the same level that we should see down south.
So, in closing it looks to be a killer weekend around Honshu with big Japanese pow days in many areas. If you happen to be able to enjoy these then you’re in for a treat.
Take care,
Grasshopper
