The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Now that the Australian season is over, The Grasshopper’s Aussie forecasts have finished for the year. He’s having a couple of months R&R and will be back in December with his Japan and North America forecasts.

And, of course, Australia’s best snow forecasts will resume in June 2025.

Now that the New Zealand’s snow season is over for South Island resorts, The Grasshopper’s Kiwi forecasts have finished for the year. He’s having a couple of months R&R and will be back in December with his Japan and North America forecasts.

And, of course, New Zealand’s best snow forecasts will resume in June 2025.

Weekly Japan Forecast – Storm of the Season to Drop Metres of Snow in Central Honshu

 

Written Thursday morning, 6th February (Japan Standard Time)

 

After ending Japanuary with a bang, we’ve started February in a full-on frenzy. Possibly the biggest storm of the season thus far got underway on Tuesday, with reports of well over a metre of powder falling in Central Honshu.

 

The storm will continue through the weekend, with strong, freezing winds and blizzard conditions, before finally ending on Tuesday, the 11th Feb. Central Honshu will continue to be favoured and will rack up around 1-2m of high-quality powder (possibly even 3m+ as one model suggest). Resorts in Northern Honshu will also rack up decent numbers but will be about half or a quarter as much in comparison.

 

Milder southwesterlies on Wednesday will bring a load of rain and dense, elevated snow before the next cold front hits that night, kicking off the next round of Japow.

 

7-Day snowfall accumulation. Note that snow depths here are calculated using a 10:1 ratio, where 1mm of rain equals 1cm of snow. This can significantly underestimate things here in Japan, where 1mm of rain often equates to 1.5-2cm of snow owing to its light n’ fluffy nature. Source: ECMWF, Windy.com

 

Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th February

Once again, the forecast starts amidst a full-blown snowstorm, which began Tuesday. And once again, on the radar, I can see broad areas of light-moderate snowfall across the country, with the odd cell of heavy snowfall (10-20+ cm/h).

 

The storm will continue for several more days and pile an eye-watering amount of snow on Japanese resorts. For these 4 days, Thursday to Sunday, Central Honshu will receive the lion’s share, with accumulations estimated to start around 75cm for the more sheltered areas and well over 2m in the more exposed parts. For Northern Honshu and Hokkaido, accumulation figures are trickier, with the less exposed resorts, such as Furano, likely receiving around 15-30cm while others, such as those nearby Niseko and Sapporo, may receive half a metre or more.

 

Snowfall rates will fluctuate, favouring some resorts over others at different times, and it’ll even clear for long periods on Hokkaido as westerly winds over the country tilt southwest during Friday before turning northwest for the weekend. There’ll be blizzard conditions, freezing temperatures, and strong winds, particularly on Honshu, so definitely a time to play it safe.

 

Snowfall accumulation for Thursday to Sunday. Source: ECMWF, Windy.com

 

Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th February

Snow will continue to fall across the country on Monday before eventually clearing on Tuesday as the storm finally comes to an end with higher pressure moving in from the west. During this time, most resorts will receive another light-moderate top-up of powder, although northern parts of central Honshu are earmarked to receive significantly more due to favourable winds.

 

On Wednesday, mild southwesterlies spread over the country, bringing heavy rain and dense snowfall to elevated levels. Fortunately, a cold front is expected to hit the country Wednesday night and kick off the next round of powder.

 

Snowfall accumulation for Monday to Wednesday. Source: ECMWF, Windy.com

 

That’s all from me today, folks. Have a great week, and I’ll see you here next Thursday for another weekly rundown of Japan’s highlights and snowlights.

 

Grasshopper

Weekly North America Forecast – Cold in Canada as Snow favours the northern U.S., then the South

 

Written Wednesday afternoon, 5th February (Pacific Standard Time)

 

7-Day snowfall accumulation. Note that snow depths here are calculated using a 10:1 ratio, where 1mm of rain equals 1cm of snow. This can significantly underestimate things here in North America, where 1mm of rain often equates to 1.5-2cm of snow, especially in the Rockies, where it can be really light n’ fluffy. Source: ECMWF, Windy.com

 

Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th February

From Thursday to Saturday, a punchy low-pressure system will pass eastwards over the northern U.S., bringing deep totals to many resorts.

 

The storm will hit the Sierra’s square-on, with heavy snow there from Thursday morning to early Friday, but snow levels will lift above base levels of the Tahoe resorts due to warm winds from the southwest that will blow like mad. Temperatures, and thus snow levels, will drop on the backside of the low, but so too will snowfall rates, and it’ll clear out by late Friday, leaving behind up to 30-60+cm of snow.

 

Orgeon, Idaho, Wyoming, northern Utah and northern Colorado will also receive decent accumulations, mainly in the 25-50cm range, by the time the storm exits out east early Saturday. Some resorts, particularly those in the central Rockies, will also struggle with elevated snow levels, but cold, dry air will sink southwards on Saturday.

 

Following on the heels of that storm, a weaker storm will track eastwards a little further to the north over the northern U.S. during Saturday and Sunday. Although snow accumulation numbers won’t be as impressive- just a top-up of around 5-15cm for the Cascades, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming – the snow quality will be top-shelf thanks to the cold airmass that will be in place over the north. Some resorts in the south of the Canadian Rockies may also receive a light dusting from this, but for the most part, Canada’s west will stay cold, clear and dry.

 

Snowfall accumulation for Thursday to Sunday. Source: ECMWF, Windy.com

 

Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th February

On Monday, a cold, arctic high pushes down over Canada and the north U.S. Rockies with light snow falling along the leading edge of this new airmass.

 

The snow will gain momentum and become heavier over the southern half of the U.S. during Tuesday and Wednesday as low pressure over the south deepens and the cold northern air interacts with more humid air from the south. By the end of Wednesday, the Sierras and Southern Rockies will have picked up moderate to heavy snowfall, with still more to come in the following days.

 

Snowfall accumulation for Monday to Wednesday. Source: ECMWF, Windy.com

 

That’s all from me today, folks. Have a great week, and I’ll see you back here next Thursday for another weekly rundown of North America’s highlights and snowlights.

 

Grasshopper

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