STORMWATCH – Niseko, The World’s Powder Mecca

December 19th, 2011


Rod Hanrick Training Manager & Group Lesson Manager, Niseko Base Snowsports loving the pow. Image:: Darren Teasdale

Stormwatch | Snow alert

Snow just isn’t letting up in Niseko, another stint of heavy snowfall has turned the Japanese resort into the world’s powder mecca.

The guys at Ski Japan have sent through some pics and an update, courtesy of Rob White. Here’s what Rob had to report from Niseko today:

“Still snowing this morning with a little less intensity than the day with 15-20 at base and a further 20 -25 on the mountain in the last 24hours.

The radar is showing further bands of moisture tracking into our region today and bases are building quickly with the under growth up on the mountain now well covered with several meters of snow. Plenty of eager guides with their hounds are champing at the bit in of our 7 gates to the heavenly to open. This should be any day now.

Steady snow is forecast till Wednesday where at this stage the cycle may take a breather for 6 -12 hrs. With snow clearers buzzing the entire village and outskirting roads, it should hopefully provide adequate time to clean up the shop before what would appear to be a very very significant system brewing from North West Russia !…We’ll keep an extra eye on this one… !

As mentioned yesterday the outlook is forecasting relentless snow with at least 4 out of the next 6 days showing significant further drops of dry powder in the program. The last 15 days of snow is paying huge dividends up there with jaw dropping deep powder everywhere.


Paul Lorenz, head of Niseko Base Snowsports, getting deep. Image:: Darren Teasdale

Even for Niseko, this is becoming quite ridiculous for this time of the year and with what is now one of the best starts to a season we have seen since the 05 -06 season, its anyone’s bet where it goes from here.

Currently the temps are around neg 4 here in the village and around minus 10 at mid to upper mountain.
Winds are similar and are almost calm at the base with around 20 km forecast on the upper mountain so layer up, chill factors will be down.

20 Lifts expected to run offering 4 mountain access with the 3 Gondolas of Hirafu, Annupuri and Higashiyama”