Hakuba Snow Report – 30th Jan 2011

Weather conditions: Light snow
New snowfall: 35+ cm (Happo, observed), 25+ cm (Village, observed)
Snow depth: Hakuba Goryu Top : 340cm [official]
True to form snow began to fall yesterday and continued overnight leaving behind 25cm odd powder in the village and 35cm plus on resorts. Strange update from Goryu today reporting 0 new snow – assume thats a misinput as there is powder galore everywhere. Happo gondola line was still quiet at 8 this morning but seems everyone had a late start as things were starting to get a bit more hectic on the mountain by 10.

Heaps of wooping as lines get slashed, and the usual people stuck in powder filled moguls and searching for lost skis or finding themselves on snowboards bottomed out on the flat.

Light is a bit flat at altitude but visibility below 1500m isn’t bad. Light winds from the SE on Happo’s Usagidaira slope (1400m) currently -10 degrees, light NE at the Ski Jumps (760m) and -5.

Forecast for today is for light snow to continue, looks like the start of February will bring some clear weather and warmer temperatures through the week to come.