Japan The Japanese snow season 2021-2022 Weather

[Sandy]

I'm back in Japan now, after a long stint in the USA.

Since there's low likelihood that of OS visitors to Japan, I've changed the thread title to the main Weather thread for Japan for season 2021-2022.

Big totals over the last 48hours in central & western Honshu near the coast, with the bulk of it falling in the first 24 hours:

Sat noon to Sunday noon:
- Myoko (Sekiyama) reporting a bit above 85cm.
- Nozawa Onsen ~ 45cm
- Yuzawa Town ~ 70cm


Good pattern for snow in central and western Honshu, nearer the coast: Big high pressure over central China, and a due north wind, though not very strong. Not such a good wind for Hakuba, because a stronger wind out of the NW & NNW is better for most of the resorts there, except for Cortina.

Not so good for northern Honshu/Tohoku, because the fetch is NNE, swinging to a lighter NNW, which means less inland penetration. A WNW wind is better for Tohoku.
Not like an early season pattern which tends to more to the WNW.

Plenty of Sea/Lake effect snow, but wind is not strong, so less inland penetration. Coastal areas doing well.

 

[Hyst]

Not good for the people who got stranded in the mountains.

Edit: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211229/p2a/00m/0na/002000c

 

[Sandy]

Sekiyama and Nozawa now +80cm in last 24hrs. Very snowy!

 

[Sandy]

Very similar Sea of Japan surface chart to last Sunday, which produced less snow for Hakuba than was generally expected. (Light/moderate NNE wind)

 

[PMG]

Very snowy around Kyoto last couple of days.

 

[Sandy]

Just sprinkling snow here in Yokohama!!!

 

[Sandy]

My backyard in Yokohama!!

 

[Asama]

My backyard in Yokohama!!

Was sunny all day up here. The snow seems to be clinging to the coast.

 

[Claude Cat]

 

[Sandy]

Got up to 8cm at Yokohama.... stopped snowing now.

A bit of night time fun

Snow on autumn leaves

Snow on cobwebs

 

[Undies]

Anyone at Happo this week?

 

[Sandy]

Anyone at Happo this week?

Yes, was up on Happo today.
Up on mountain, got around 4-5cm before lunch and another 10-11cm from midday to 3pm.

 

[Asama]

Was expecting rain or sleet here, but ended up snowing all day. A bit wet - will probably freeze hard now temps are dropping.

 

[Slowman]

Nice looking evening in Niseko at the moment.

 

[Froff Life]

First time in maybe a decade that this thread has been on 2 pages toward the end of January

 

[Sandy]

There been plenty of "weather", crazy amounts of snow, but probably nobody wants to know!!!

Basically the snow base around the Hakuba resorts (where I've been for 11 days) is around 320cm. In those 11 days, it hasn't snow only one day. (seem my travel report: https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/japan-trip-report-during-the-pandemic-mk2.90938/ )

 

[Asama]

Couple of lows travelling up the Pacific Coast in the next week. Could make things interesting in Kanto.

 

[Sandy]

Couple of lows travelling up the Pacific Coast in the next week. Could make things interesting in Kanto.

Yes, Monday one could produce snow, and the Thursday one could be diabolical!!!!

 

[Billy Bob]

I have never seriously looked at Japan as a snow chasing destination (I'm not a skier) but am considering it now. Sapporo has a snow festival about now, and Niseko itself is easily reached by public transport. I am assuming one can get by with a bit of elementary Japanese and translation apps, particularly in Sapporo and the ski resorts.

Of course nobody can get there at the moment. Watch this if you're a masochist, however it's relaxing to me watching the snow fall:



I am assuming this is at or near the base which is only just over 200 m ASL, though of course snow is plentiful there even at sea level. I am not sure how many of you have studied the meteorology; basically cold Siberian air meets the relatively warm Sea Of Japan and condenses into 'ocean effect' snow. Niseko benefits further from orographic uplift, being close to the coast.

Cities like Asahikawa are colder but further inland and in a bit of a rain/snow shadow, though any snow that falls there seems to stay pretty well:

 

[Sandy]

I have never seriously looked at Japan as a snow chasing destination (I'm not a skier) but am considering it now. Sapporo has a snow festival about now, and Niseko itself is easily reached by public transport. I am assuming one can get by with a bit of elementary Japanese and translation apps, particularly in Sapporo and the ski resorts.

Of course nobody can get there at the moment. Watch this if you're a masochist, however it's relaxing to me watching the snow fall:



I am assuming this is at or near the base which is only just over 200 m ASL, though of course snow is plentiful there even at sea level. I am not sure how many of you have studied the meteorology; basically cold Siberian air meets the relatively warm Sea Of Japan and condenses into 'ocean effect' snow. Niseko benefits further from orographic uplift, being close to the coast.

Cities like Asahikawa are colder but further inland and in a bit of a rain/snow shadow, though any snow that falls there seems to stay pretty well:

Look through the Japan threads for weather. Already covered the lake/sea effect maybe 10 years ago.

I use the wind direction to predict where the most snow will fall. Central Japan (Nagano/Niigata) get the most out of the lake/sea effect, because the Sea of Japan is widest there.

You should go here: This place gets the most out of orographic lift, and proximity to the coast.

 

[Sandy]

Snowing here in Yokohama (10:30pm 13th Feb).
There's a "heavy snow alert".

 

[Asama]

After a run of pretty dry winters, up here it's been snow after snow after snow this season, especially in the last couple of weeks. Running out of places to put it...

 

[Asama]

Woke up to this mess today. Trees and branches snapped, roads blocked... Spring snow is no fun!
Hoping this is the last of the season.

 

[Asama]

What's the appropriate thread for moaning about how insanely hot it's been here recently?

 

[skichanger]

What's the appropriate thread for moaning about how insanely hot it's been here recently?

Yeah not hot like Aus up here at Madarao but hot enough to only be out working in the garden early. I retreat to my 1st basement in the middle of the day. And I am contemplating actually running the air conditioners when I need to work on the 2nd floor.

 

[skichanger]

So after a few really hot days I am listening to thunder rolling around the mountains. There have been afew randrom drops so far but as yet no serious rain here at Madarao. But most importantly the temp has dropped a little.

 

[Sbooker]

I think I’ve read @Sandy talk of ‘step changes’ in the Japan climate. When is peak summer? End of July? August?

 

[Sandy]

I think I’ve read @Sandy talk of ‘step changes’ in the Japan climate. When is peak summer? End of July? August?

As soon as the rainy season stops. Usually early/mid July, but it's early.

But Peak summer is August. Usually, no day is below 30 degree max, and no night gets below 24 degrees (Tokyo)

 

[Asama]

So after a few really hot days I am listening to thunder rolling around the mountains. There have been afew randrom drops so far but as yet no serious rain here at Madarao. But most importantly the temp has dropped a little.

Last few days have been waiting and waiting for the rain. Every afternoon the clouds start forming only to roll away. Next few days look like a definite for rain tho.

 

[Hyst]

Last few days have been waiting and waiting for the rain. Every afternoon the clouds start forming only to roll away. Next few days look like a definite for rain tho.

Yes a lot, it seems - it took a bad turn!