Base up top: 320cm Temp Top; +4 Degrees Base at bottom: 145cm New Snow since close: 0cm We have another clear bluebird day in Nozawa Onsen this morning. Visibility above 1400 meters is outstanding, but a strong inversion layer has trapped haze in the valleys limiting long range views. Overnight snowfalls did not eventuate, with only a dusting received on the upper slopes. Riding conditions this morning were firm and fast, but surprisingly, not that icy. As the temperature warmed during the morning the snow correspondingly softened and at the moment we have slushy spring snow throughout. Snow conditions will be similar across the mountain with lowers slopes being more slushy and slower than the upper […]
Sunny this morning, snow later
Base up top: 320cm Temp Top; -6 Degrees Base at bottom: 150cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s a mostly fine morning here in Nozawa Onsen today. We have some high altitude cirrus clouds passing overhead that tend to preceded frontal systems. This correlates with the forecast; we expect snow showers to move through later this afternoon and tonight. Riding this morning will be on classic spring snow; firm in the morning and softening by midday. South facing slopes may become sticky as the sun intensifies. Like yesterday the best riding will be had in the Yamabiko area. It’s a good day to practice in the park and pipe with the soft forgiving conditions. Likewise mogul runs […]
Yet another great spring day..
Base up top: 325cm Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom: 150cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s another visually spectacular morning here in Nozawa Onsen. No new snow to report of but there is a clear blue sky with not a cloud to be seen combined with very light winds. Visibility is excellent with many distant alpine peaks clear. Crowd levels are minuscule and we have some nice spring snow; firm and fast in the morning grading to slushy by late morning. Snow near Yamabiko will remain dry and fast all day with a freezing level of around 1200 meters in the shade. Yesterday was one of the best days we’ve had in a while with […]
Light Snow
Base up top: 330cm Temp Top; -11 Degrees Base at bottom: 155cm New Snow since close: 10cm We have some light snow in Nozawa Onsen at the moment. After some rain last night the precipitation quickly turned to snow delivering 10cm of fresh up high, 3cm was recorded in the village. The conditions will be great for skiing and boarding today with excellent spring powder, cold temperatures and small crowds. Tree runs will be the pick trapping deeper stashes and offering improved visibility. The groomers will also be in fine form today with fast soft corduroy created for your carving pleasure, courtesy of the Nozawa grooming team. We expect moderate winds to decrease as the day moves […]
Decent snowfalls expected
Base up top: 330cm Temp Top; +2 Degrees Base at bottom: 155cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s a relatively balmy overcast morning here in Nozawa Onsen with positive temperatures across the mountain. Slushy spring snow conditions will prevail with the best riding to be had on the upper slopes, especially this afternoon. At the moment we have some heavy, high cirrus cloud passing over Nozawa Onsen accompanied by moderate winds. This is usually an indication of a impending front which is what we expect today. There may be some prefrontal rain this afternoon before a very cold North Westerly airstream establishes itself over Honshu some time tonight. Front this we expect a decent dump of fresh […]
Perfect spring day
Base up top: 330cm Temp Top; -8 Degrees Base at bottom: 160cm New Snow since close: 0cm What a day we have in Nozawa Onsen today. The weather does not get much better than this! Looking out the window at the moment you will see bright full blue skies with not a cloud to be seen. The trees are standing dead still with not a breath of wind. To top it all off the powder snow is in pristine shape with cold overnight temperatures. I think it is safe to say that it will be an excellent day of skiing and boarding in Nozawa Onsen today. Yesterday was also an outstanding day. Moderate snow showers continued until […]
Winter Returns to Nozawa Onsen
Base up top: 340cm Temp Top; -15 Degrees Base at bottom: 165cm New Snow since close: 10-30cm Winter has returned to Nozawa Onsen with a healthy overnight top up recorded. At the moment we have light to moderate flakes falling, very cold temperatures and windy conditions on the higher slopes. Today will be a good day for skiing and boarding with 30cm of dry windblown powder recorded at Uenotaira, 10cm at Yamabiko. The forecast suggests the sun will make an appearance this afternoon and if this is correct conditions will be superb. Head for the tree runs to seek shelter from the wind and improved visibility before the sun comes out. Yesterday turned out to be a […]
Saturday Sun
Base up top: 350cm Temp Top; -7 Degrees Base at bottom: 170cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s a sunny partly cloudy morning here in Nozawa Onsen, another classic spring day. Luckily the forecast overnight rainfalls have failed to arrive as we only received light drizzle for a short time last night. We have quite a variation in temperature across the resort of Nozawa Onsen early on. Down in the village is a balmy +5C. However the top is quite cold with a temperature of -7C. It’s unusual to have such a significant variation between top and bottom. Expect the lower runs to be very slushy this morning, whilst the upper slopes will be very fast and […]
Slushy Spring Conditions
Base up top: 335cm Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom: 175cm New Snow since close: 0cm Today will continue the trend of spring conditions we’ve had recently. Up the top will be fast and icy early in the day, but will soften as the temperature warms by late morning. On the lower half temperatures remained above zero all night so will be soft from first lifts onwards. We expect a mostly sunny morning before the clouds roll through later this afternoon. Unfortunately there is the possibility of rain, but likely this should quickly turn to snow up high. Visibility early on is good, but limited over a long range with a haze blown in by south winds from the […]
Foggy Spring Morning
Base up top: 360cm Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom: 180cm New Snow since close: 0cm Waking this morning in Nozawa Onsen we have been greeted with some hazy fog. The sun is already piercing through so it is unlikely for this to last and we expect a clear bluebird day later. No new snowfalls are expected in the next 24 hours. Today should almost be a carbon copy of yesterday. We will see spring conditions that will be fairly firm during the early morning, before becoming slushy. There will be very light weekday crowds along with light winds. Yesterday was a classic spring day. Very warm turned the snow into fun and forgiving slush by lunchtime. Up top […]