Base up top: 410 cm Temp Top; -7 Degrees Base at bottom; 230 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Clear With the amount of cold sunny mornings we have had so far this month there is a definite spring vibe in the air. Expect conditions today to be firm and fast earlier, softening with the incidence of solar radiation. Off piste areas may have the occasional patches of spring corn beginning to form, that will be very fun to ride. But today the best bet will be riding the groomers that will be perfect for some carving action. The snowfalls that were predicted over the last 36 hours amounted to nothing more than a few passing […]
An icy base
Base up top: 410 cm Temp Top; -7 Degrees Base at bottom; 235 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Partly cloudy Its a cold and windy morning here in Nozawa Onsen today. With no new snow to report and a temperature reading of -7C at the summit of Mt Kenashi the snow will be very firm and/or icy today on all but the lowest of slopes. On piste areas will be the pick and they will be fast, good edging technique required. Yesterday we saw some warm sunny weather last the duration. It was a nice day to be outside with soft and forgiving spring skiing making for ideal conditions to practice and improve. The park […]
Better than expected
Base up top: 420 cm Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom; 240 cm New Snow since close: 5 cm Weather; Cloud The rain that was forecast for last night has seemed to of missed us here in Nozawa Onsen and instead we have received the lightest dusting of snow in the village and 5cm up top. Good news, the skiing and boarding today will be better than expected. Looks like today the freezing level will gradually decline, currently sitting at 1200 meters, to around 200 meters. During this time isolated light snow showers are also a possibility, enhancing conditions. Yesterday was also a nice day to be up on the hill. With colder than predicted temperatures the […]
Increasing cloud today
Base up top: 430 cm Temp Top; -5 Degrees Base at bottom; 240 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Clear Its a fine morning in Nozawa Onsen with clear skies, cool temperatures and a light breeze. No fresh snow to report overnight however plenty of stashes are left over from the dump we had yesterday. The snow quality should remain good all day with light dry and powdery in the morning, becoming slushier during the day as temperatures warm. Yesterday we saw some excellent quality snow fall on a variable frozen base layer so cautious skier was required in all areas to prevent coming unstuck. Nevertheless there were a few nice turns in tree areas such […]
Base up top: 430 cm Temp Top; -7 Degrees Base at bottom; 240 cm New Snow since close: 15 cm Weather; Light snow An unusually widespread blackout affecting the entire Nagano prefecture has temporarily disrupted operations this morning however as of 930am electricity has been restored along with normal lift operations. This is good as it will be a great day up on the mountain with 15cm of fresh powder recorded on the upper elevations since last lifts yesterday. Temperatures are cold and we are currently experiencing occasional patches of blue sky that will likely increase later in the day. Yesterday was better than expected. The forecast rain held off until about 3pm at the lower elevations and […]
The first day of spring
Base up top: 420 cm Temp Top; -3 Degrees Base at bottom; 250 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Overcast Its the first day of spring and the atmosphere is showing some signs of spring riding on the slopes of Nozawa Onsen today. With the freezing level sitting at around 1000 meters the temperatures are warmer today and the typical spring snow will be prevalent across the resort; expect firm and fast conditions softening by the afternoon. Shaded gullies will hold the best snow along with on piste areas. The park and pipe will also be particularly good, worth a look. It was great to get some fresh powder once again yesterday. With cold temperatures and […]
Base up top: 430 cm Temp Top; -9 Degrees Base at bottom; 235 cm New Snow since close: 20 cm Weather; Overcast Excellent winter weather has returned overnight to Nozawa Onsen. Since last lifts yesterday we have had 20cm of fresh powder recorded and very cold temperatures, dramatically improving conditions from the last week or so. Best to hit the slopes as early as possible today to avoid the 9am weekend gondola line and make the most of the fresh snow. All areas will be good including the groomed pistes and marked tree areas. Yesterday saw light snow fall for most of the day however a frozen base made conditions very challenging. Dust of crust was the words […]
Slushy Conditions Prevail
Base up top: 415 cm Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom; 240 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Overcast Its an overcast mild morning in the township of Nozawa Onsen. This is a good thing. Today we should not expect the sheet ice layers that have taken over the upper mountain over the past few days but instead some nice soft slushy snow. The surface should remain relatively fast so long as the liquid precipitation stays away and humidity remains low, possible given the good visibility on the upper mountain. The Japan Uni Games are in progress in Nozawa Onsen this week and will continue over the weekend. Quite a spectacle is the huge ski […]
Sharp edges required
Base up top: 415 cm Temp Top; -6 Degrees Base at bottom; 245 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Overcast With the summit of Mt Kenashi sitting at -6C we are back to near normal temperatures for this time of year in the Nozawa Onsen area. However a lack of fresh snow means conditions will be similar to your typical dry spell in other ski areas. Resort slopes are hard and icy on the upper mountain today and the lower slopes will be slushy but fast. Some sun will improve things however only brief patches of clear sky are forecast for today. Off piste areas should be avoided at all costs as they remain as chopped […]
Colder with possibility of snow
Base up top: 420 cm Temp Top; -3 Degrees Base at bottom; 250 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Overcast Things have cooled off in Nozawa Onsen slightly today. Instead of Mt Kenashi summit temperature sitting well into the positives like yesterday it has dropped to -3C. Furthermore, the precipitation we experienced yesterday looks to have cleared for now as has the dense fog that hovered over the mountain yesterday. We can expect icy conditions today on the upper mountain, slushier down low. But at least the snow will be fast. Yesterday was pretty bad. Light rain stuck around for most of the day and all but the most well ridden pistes were sticky and wet. […]