Cold arctic smoke and 10/10 skiing today Nozawa Snow Report 25 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 350 cm Temp at Top: -10 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 275 cm New snow since close: 15 cm Weather: Snow Nozawa Snow Report 25 January 2017: Overview Looks like we are in for another day that will be up there with the best. Light snow has continued to fall overnight refreshing the mountain back to a clean slate. Temperatures remain very cold and the winds are moderate with limited visibility becoming apparent with altitude gain. If the past few days are anything to go by crowds will be non existent. Time to get out there. Yesterday was an insane day. Heavy snow […]
Nozawa Snow Report 24 January 2017
The Arctic comes to Nozawa Onsen Nozawa Snow Report 24 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 350 cm Temp at Top: -12 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 260 cm New snow since close: 30 cm Weather: Snow Nozawa Snow Report 24 January 2017: Overview The coldest morning temperatures I can remember are current on the Yamabiko weather station, recording -12c before windchill. For comparisons sake, a normal cold weather temperature for the 8am Yamabiko reading is consistently -7/-8c. Today is much colder than normal with air streaming straight down from the arctic. There are also strong winds up high so when windchill is factored in the apparent temperature will be more like -20/-25c. Therefore if you value your core body […]
Nozawa Snow Report 23 January 2017
Winter returns with 30cm of fresh Siberian powder overnight Nozawa Snow Report 23 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 320 cm Temp at Top: -10 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 235 cm New snow since close: 30 cm Weather: Snow Nozawa Snow Report 23 January 2017: Overview During the early hours of this morning heavy falls of snow descended on Nozawa Onsen producing no less than 30cm of fresh powder from top to bottom across the resort. There will be some great skiing and boarding in all areas with very cold temperatures and snow showers continuing for the rest of today. Expect foggy conditions up top with improving visibility across the lower stretches of the mountain. Crowd levels will be […]
Nozawa Snow Report 22 January 2017
Snowfalls ease with good visibility resort wide Nozawa Snow Report 22 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 300 cm Temp at Top: -6 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 215 cm New snow since close: 0 cm Weather: Clear Nozawa Snow Report 22 January 2017: Overview Snowfalls eased overnight as the wind swung around to the SW and as a result we have no significant increase in coverage since first lifts yesterday. Right now out the window its partly cloudy with occasional breaks of sunshine, its going to be a mostly fine day on the hill. Make sure you bring the camera up with some luck you may capture to Sea of Japan, potentially visible to the West (look back towards […]
Nozawa Snow Report 21 January 2017
Thunderstorms and fresh snow Nozawa Snow Report 21 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 305 cm Temp at Top: -5 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 230 cm New snow since close: 10 cm Weather: Heavy snow Nozawa Snow Report 21 January 2017: Overview Thunder, lightning and strong winds accompanied daybreak this morning in Nozawa Onsen. I woke to the sound of snowflakes and soft hail rattling the side of the lodge as the storm broke overhead. Storms are an irregular occurrence in the winter only occurring a few times per season if at all. As of 5am no fresh snow had fallen, but from this time to 8am 10cm had collected on the upper slopes. Although the temperatures aren’t especially […]
Nozawa Snow Report 20 January 2017
No fresh snow, a day for the pistes Nozawa Snow Report 20 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 300 cm Temp at Top: -8 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 230 cm New snow since close: 0 cm Weather: Clear, valley fog Nozawa Snow Report 20 January 2017: Overview Much like two days ago we have some morning fog floating about the valleys. The village is entirely shrouded giving a highly atmospheric feel but at higher elevations its a different story. The top of the mountain is basking in sunshine, all be it with decidedly chilly temperatures of around -8c. While the atmosphere is not quite as clear as Wednesday, there will surely be some photogenic views from Yamabiko and so […]
Nozawa Snow Report 19 January 2017
Light snow flurries and an earthquake alarm in the village Nozawa Snow Report 19 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 315 cm Temp at Top: -6 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 230 cm New snow since close: 5 cm Weather: Light snow Nozawa Snow Report 19 January 2017: Yesterday What a day it was yesterday! For those lucky enough to get up early would have seen some amazing atmospheric clarity as they rose above the valley fog aboard the Nagasaka gondola. The Sea of Japan and the horizon over the ocean was clearly visible. Even Sado Island way off to the NW was sighted. The mighty Japanese Alps all the way to Hakuba extended across the skyline providing ample mind skiing. […]
Nozawa Snow Report 18 January 2017
20cm and clear skies above, skiing in a dream state Nozawa Snow Report 18 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 330 cm Temp at Top: -8 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 245 cm New snow since close: 20 cm Weather: Clear Nozawa Snow Report 18 January 2017: Overview The storm is over. Delivering a parting gift of 20cm overnight there are now clear blue skies and bright sunshine above the mountains. A bluebird powder day. In the valleys we have a dense but spectacular sea of fog. Bring the camera up today as there will surely be some amazing views with fresh snow frosting the trees framed by a backdrop of piercing snow clad peaks. To recap from the past […]
Update Nozawa Onsen and Australian Family found today
Update Nozawa Onsen Have had a lot of calls this morning from journalists and concerned people for the missing family so just wanted to update what we know. The family was found at about 8:45 am this morning and all well with maybe some minor frostbite from a very cold night on the mountain. It was a Mother and 3 Adult sons from Australia that had been staying at the resort It would appear that they had ventured out side the Resort boundary yesterday afternoon off the back of Mt Kenashi which is the highest peak at Nozawa Onsen at 1650m They probably skied along a ridge and then headed down the south face. No doubt lost and concerned as […]
Nozawa Snow Report 17 January 2017
7th day of snowfalls; The storm that just keeps giving Nozawa Snow Report 17 January 2017: Stats Base at top: 340 cm Temp at Top: -5 Degree Base at Uenotaira station: 245 cm New snow since close: 25 cm Weather: Heavy Snow Nozawa Snow Report 17 January 2017: Overview It just never stops. For the 7th day in a row it has dumped overnight in Nozawa Onsen. This time 25cm has fallen on the upper slopes and 25cm in the village. This is amazing. A week ago I said to expect some huge figures upcoming and that has been the case. Since the 10th we have had a storm total of 345cm, which is nearly one third of the average […]