Japan The coming Japanese snow season 2019-2020 Weather

[Crispy013]

Starting to fall into place shortly for Hokkaido.

IMO, Nov 15th-ish looks like the beginning of some proper falls.

Then, biblical

GFS, yeah yeah. But the vibe is good.

 

[dcx3]

Hi folks,
Long time no see, Here's to a long and fluffy season.

My boy turns 2 in December. To celebrate I will take him to Hokkaido and put him on a board or some skis (stay on topic)

Those setups are looking good for this time of the year, resorts might open on time for a change. Its still quite far away but from the 15th is looking good

 

[D'Ariel]

 

[telenomore]

Snowing in central Hokkaido. Snow on the ground Tomamu (580m) and top 2/3rd's of resort Furano.

 

[Donza]

Oh she good

 

[Donza]

Oh she good.
Violent storm 964 core.

 

[Jellybeans]

Oh she good.
Violent storm 964 core.

#seasonstarter right there.

The pattern agrees and should continue over the next 10-20days

 

[Sbooker]

I’m flying into Sapporo on December 16th and was/is expecting usual ‘no snow nerves’ in the lead up because of my very early season timing. Might get lucky and have some white on the cams before we go hey?

 

[Jellybeans]

I’m flying into Sapporo on December 16th and was/is expecting usual ‘no snow nerves’ in the lead up because of my very early season timing. Might get lucky and have some white on the cams before we go hey?

I think you’ll be better than a normal season.

 

[Sandy]

I’m flying into Sapporo on December 16th and was/is expecting usual ‘no snow nerves’ in the lead up because of my very early season timing. Might get lucky and have some white on the cams before we go hey?

Expect white on the cams about a month before that.

 

[Sandy]

There's snow on Mt Fuji at the moment

 

[Sbooker]

Expect white on the cams about a month before that.

Note to self. Must keep hopes in check.
My brain could easily get carried away with dreams of proper powder turns.

 

[Sandy]

Note to self. Must keep hopes in check.
My brain could easily get carried away with dreams of proper powder turns.

Chances of powder at that time of year at Niseko are reasonable anyway.
The snowfall on 16th Dec and the next 6 days:
2018/19: 41cm
2017/18: 147cm
2016/17: 63cm
2015/16: 47cm
2014/15: 78cm
2013/14: 20cm
2012/13: 130cm

 

[Sbooker]

Chances of powder at that time of year at Niseko are reasonable anyway.
The snowfall on 16th Dec and the next 6 days:
2018/19: 41cm
2017/18: 147cm
2016/17: 63cm
2015/16: 47cm
2014/15: 78cm
2013/14: 20cm
2012/13: 130cm

Wow. My kids would get lost in a 2017/18.

 

[Ramenman]

The base of Mount Racey ski resort at 280m above sea level today.

 

[Donza]

Wow. My kids would get lost in a 2017/18.

You should have seen 05/06

 

[Sandy]

Chances of powder at that time of year at Niseko are reasonable anyway.
The snowfall on 16th Dec and the next 6 days:
2018/19: 41cm
2017/18: 147cm
2016/17: 63cm
2015/16: 47cm
2014/15: 78cm
2013/14: 20cm
2012/13: 130cm

Wow. My kids would get lost in a 2017/18.

Mind you, you take central Japan (Myoko) and there can be even more snow sometimes....
2018/19, a 4 day stretch at the end of December yielded 232cm, and 308cm in 7 days.

And in 2017/18, at Myoko, they had 110cm in 2 days (17th & 18th)!!!
And in 2014/15, 160cm in two days (14th, 15th), and 285cm in 6 days

 

[Sbooker]

Sounds impressive. We’ve seen big dumps of snow but Hokkaido especially appears to be very reliable from mid December which is fairly unique when comparing to most areas in Europe, Canada, US and central Japan.
I’ll be happy even if I’ve got to rent the skinny skis and work on my carving on the groomers.

 

[Hyst]

Yep, and this is Hokuriku Shinkansen. They won't be able to run today, I guess.

It has been decided to scrap them.

 

[Sandy]

Sounds impressive. We’ve seen big dumps of snow but Hokkaido especially appears to be very reliable from mid December which is fairly unique when comparing to most areas in Europe, Canada, US and central Japan.
I’ll be happy even if I’ve got to rent the skinny skis and work on my carving on the groomers.

Generally, Japan has distinct changes throughout the year. The last step change in Tokyo happened about a week or two ago, where the daytime temperatures dropped to the 18-22 degrees range, and nights 11-12. The next step looks like happening from about the 15th November, where day times look to be in the region of 14-17, nights 9-10.

Central Japan has quite a short season. "Early Winter" usually kicks in 5 days either side of mid December. It's a big step change, where the temperatures drop to 8-13 degrees days, 4-8 nights. Mid winter kicks in around the first week in January, with 4-10 degrees days, 0-3 nights. That usually lasts about one month.

Hokkaido kicks in about 3 weeks earlier and tapers off 3-4 weeks later.

 

[Ramenman]

It has been decided to scrap them.

Yeah, all of them, but not very bad news for my family. I mean, Hitachi is the manufacturer of Hokuriku Shinkansen vehicles. The company Hitachi was named Hitachi because it was founded in Hitachi city, Ibaraki Pref(the headquarter is in Tokyo now, though). There are many Hitachi's factories and offices between Hitachi city and Tokyo, and it's partially a reason why I live and work in the region now. JR will pay extra money to Hitachi and a bit of extra bonus might come to my family. Sorry, it's very off topic!

Hitachi : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi

 

[Ramenman]

JMA has issued an early alert of heavy snow. Blue area in the image below is the area that JMA issued the alert to. "11/15頃から" means "from around November 15th". I think it's very rare that the snow alert is issued in early - mid November.

 

[PMG]

There's snow on Mt Fuji at the moment

And here. Love this cam around this time of year as the seasons change.
https://www.alpen-route.com/en/live_camera/murodo.html

 

[Syazwan]

It rarely snows in Tokyo.
*though still possible.
Best chance maybe catch the Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa. Roughly 70-80 mins away from Tokyo.

Thank you. Will do that instead of relying on the very slim chances.

 

[Jellybeans]

She looks nice. Something for everyone and only at the midway point of November.

Probably another in reply to that about 10 days later.

 

[Hyst]

No snow in Shimane so far - good for my 2wd car down there (or west)

 

[LMB]

Wow. My kids would get lost in a 2017/18.

It was a very very good early season
We had full on pow turns in November.

Sadly March was a real fizzier.

 

[Ecstatic]

It was a very very good early season
We had full on pow turns in November.

Sadly March was a real fizzier.

Makes me a bit wary, early start seems to coincide with an early finish.

 

[Donza]

Pic off FB- Morino Lodge Hakuba

 

[Crispy013]

Pic off FB- Morino Lodge Hakuba

That today? Seems like a fair dusting up on the top peaks.

 

[Donza]

That today? Seems like a fair dusting up on the top peaks.

Aye

 

[Ramenman]

Shiga Kogen today

 

[Ramenman]

The first image = 3pm today. The second one = 9pm. White = Snow. Blue = Rain.

The image below says it can snow 40cm in 北海道=Hokkaido and 20cm in 東北 = Tohoku between 6am today and 6am tomorrow and the snowfall might reach 50 - 70cm in Hokkaido beween this morning and Saturday(16th) morning. It's a general weather forecast and the snowfall is on village & road level, not on ski slope altitude. So, it might snow more on ski slopes(not sure how much it actually snows, though).

 

[telenomore]

Big winds and heavy rain this morning in Furano preceeding the cold change. Cold air kicked in about 11:30 am in Asahikawa, then about 3:00 pm, back in Furano, in came the snow and its been snowing steadily since. This is at street/town level. Green turned white over the last two hours. Hoping the above prediction holds and we wake up to some morning exercise (snow clearing!).

Edit: Just want to add, some comments about this being an early season posted earlier in this thread. This is not an early season, in fact, a few week late for central Hokkaido. This is a big November snowfall coming though, no doubt about that, so might be a good season starter, but not an early season. Furano ski resort on track to open the same time as they have over the last few years, weekend after this (end of November).

 

[Sandy]

Big winds and heavy rain this morning in Furano preceeding the cold change. Cold air kicked in about 11:30 am in Asahikawa, then about 3:00 pm, back in Furano, in came the snow and its been snowing steadily since. This is at street/town level. Green turned white over the last two hours. Hoping the above prediction holds and we wake up to some morning exercise (snow clearing!).

Edit: Just want to add, some comments about this being an early season posted earlier in this thread. This is not an early season, in fact, a few week late for central Hokkaido. This is a big November snowfall coming though, no doubt about that, so might be a good season starter, but not an early season. Furano ski resort on track to open the same time as they have over the last few years, weekend after this (end of November).

But early snow for central Japan

 

[Ramenman]

Yep, it's rather a bit "slow" start for Central Hokkaido so far. Kurodake ski resort was planning to open on November 9th but the snowdepth was only 30cm, so they decided not to open.

JMA release one month forecast every Thursday = they released the newest one today and it doesn't look very good(not very bad either).

I basically don't trust long-term forecast. JMA release 3 month forecast every month(on third Thursday, IIRC), and the 3 month forecast is almost meaningless.

 

[Fast Eddie]

How’s this for a “front” off the 1050 High!

 

[Jellybeans]

How’s this for a “front” off the 1050 High!

That’s part of the underlying +EAMT situation > increasing momentum that allows the creation of such fronts.

 

[Ramenman]

JMA have issued snow-storm warning to Hokkaido and advisory to Aomori(Edit: not Aomori now. JMA keep updating it)

 

[Ramenman]

Snow forecast between 9am this morning and 9am of 17th(Sunday). Purple around Furano =More than 60cm. I hope it actually happens. JMA release a monthly forecast every Thursday (they released the newest one yesterday) and they say it is likely that Nov16 - Dec16 is warmer than average season(I don't count on their long-term forecast, though).

 

[ojisan]

according to JMA Furano has got a current snow depth of 14 cms.
wonder how much they had on the ski field

 

[telenomore]

according to JMA Furano has got a current snow depth of 14 cms.
wonder how much they had on the ski field

Furano Resort, at 10:00 am, reporting 45 cm at the top of gondola and 20 cm at the bottom. Here is a pic from outside our window just now at 180mASL just outside Furano, about 25+cm in the last 24 hours and snowing consistently. This vista had green grass and no snow yesterday at 2:00 pm.

 

[SnowOrca]

Heading to Furano for the first time on 5th of Feb! So keen to start exploring Hokkaido after 6 years of central Japan.

 

[telenomore]

Snow forecast between 9am this morning and 9am of 17th(Sunday). Purple around Furano =More than 60cm. I hope it actually happens. JMA release a monthly forecast every Thursday (they released the newest one yesterday) and they say it is likely that Nov16 - Dec16 is warmer than average season(I don't count on their long-term forecast, though).

@Ramenman that prediction was spot on. We have 50cm snow depth on the picnic tables at our place (180ASL) and with the snow settling under its own weight, I'd say total snowfall since Thursday would be over 60cm, thats at town level. Resort opening next Saturday, 23rd, right on schedule.

 

[Snowwww]

Sorry for asking the same question over and over again..According to the current condition and forecast, is the first two weeks in December in Shiga Kogan and HAKUBA going to be good for a beginner skier? I will be really happy with good groomed snow coverage so I can have lesson the mornings and practice in the afternoons.

I saw a map above forecasting the northern area will have better snow. Should I consider to go to the Appi Kogen instead? Or should I just make up my mind and go to Hokkaido?

 

[ojisan]

If you are worried... head to Hokkaido.
Shiga may well have OK cover... not sure about Hakuba

 

[Ramenman]

It seems Nakayama Toge ski resort(near Sapporo, Hokkaido) has opened. A lot of ski resorts in Hokkaido are planning to open this weekend. Edit: This video was filmed yesterday. It's close to Sapporo and the other ski resorts nearby haven't opened yet, so it was crowded.

 

[zarik]

Sorry for asking the same question over and over again..According to the current condition and forecast, is the first two weeks in December in Shiga Kogan and HAKUBA going to be good for a beginner skier? I will be really happy with good groomed snow coverage so I can have lesson the mornings and practice in the afternoons.

I saw a map above forecasting the northern area will have better snow. Should I consider to go to the Appi Kogen instead? Or should I just make up my mind and go to Hokkaido?

Nobody knows. I think Shiga will have at least Kuma no yu open but if it is the only place open it will be a zoo. Hakuba is not guaranteed at all. I might go to Shiga early December with one of my kids who been asking non-stop, but it is an hour and a half drive for me so if it suck it’s ok.

Go to Hokkaido much safer.

In general I hope we a have a bit of an early season. Last season was great as I skied powder in March and even April was great but no snow before New Years really hurt smaller ski resorts close to where I live(Matsumoto area) they really need a good amount of people on New Years

 

[Mils]

Anyone care to guess when mainland Japan switch will flick on and the dumps begin?

 

[Donza]

Anyone care to guess when mainland Japan switch will flick on and the dumps begin?

18th December