2025.01.29 Wednesday

Mountain base -2℃, 2cm new snow, clear after mild storm. Moiwa 800m: -6℃, NE4.9m/s, the wind picked up after 4am. Mikaeri 750m: -8.0℃, N1.0m/s, sunny. Annupuri 1100m: -7.8℃, NNE4.0m/s, drifting snow over 1000m elevation, trace new snow. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -7.4℃, NNW5.5m/s, trace new snow, weak drifting snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NNE5m/s, Kamui Cape ESE3m/s, 1001hPa, wave 1.5m. 

Relieved to see some new snow for the first time in a while. General avalanche risk will increase through tomorrow as NNE wind and snow strengthen from mid day. Slabs (snowdrifts) developing during storms are unstable and easily break and cause avalanches. Today’s avalanche risk is relatively low, however it will increase tomorrow. Gates opening is yet to be decided due to the strong NE wind over 1000m elevation. Please listen to the patrols’ instructions. NIED (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience) is conducting an avalanche experiment at Mizuno no Sawa with ski patrol’s help. Please stay away from the experiment as it is dangerous. Groomers are slightly easier to ski today thanks to some new snow. Sunlight is weak and the slope undulations are hard to see. Beware of the weather transition. Have a good day.

Quote: Niseko Avalanche Information