It was welcoming to wake to fresh snow on the trees and ground in the valley today. The rain in the valley of yesterday turned to snow at just past midnight last night and will continue through the day today. Up on the slopes was a different story and the mixed rain and snow of the day turned to snow at 5pm yesterday evening and has produced a 20 cm snowfall over night. Today’s powder up top will be a sweet surprise for the many who can get away early for the weekend. This snow fall should continue through the weekend and in to next week so the chances of the resorts opening right to the bottom by next weekend are very high. Winds are calm and visibility is poor up on the slopes but the new snow will make up for that. Remember that today is the last day for early season tickets.
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Backcountry Travel Advisory:
Rain on the slopes to 2000 metres will have produced a warm layer beneath the new snow that should bond well as temperatures cool at tree line and below. Not so in the Alpine where rain did not fall and winds were high through the night. In the Alpine expect to see natural loose and slab avalanches through the day. If travelling in the backcountry be very cautious of triggering slab avalanches of 30 cms or greater. The new snow combined with the moderate to strong North west winds over night will have created cornices that will be very unstable and easy to fall with added human weight.
There’s enough snow now to produce large scale avalanches big enough to bury a person. Travel with caution if going back-country/off-piste. Also watch for partially buried rocks/stumps etc. under shallow snow-pack and potential human triggered slides in wind deposited convex rolls and gullies. Be especially cautious with warming and rain today.
Hazard:
Above tree line: High
Tree line: Considerable
Below tree line: Moderate
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Happo-One:
SNOW DEPTH: 5 cm(at the base); 100 cm(at 1500m)
NEW SNOW FALL: 5 cm(at the base); 20 cm(at 1500m)
Goryu/47:
SNOW DEPTH: 15 cm(at the base); 110 cm(at 1500m)
NEW SNOW FALL: 5 cm(at the base); 40 cm(at 1500m)
Tsugaike Kogen:
SNOW DEPTH: 5 cm(at the base); 100 cm(at 1500m)
NEW SNOW FALL: 5 cm(at the base); 20 cm(at 1500m)
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TEMPERATURE IN THE VILLAGE: -0.5 degrees C.
TEMPERATURE AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN: -3 degrees
WIND: Moderate North-Easterlies
VISIBILITY: Obscured with Snow
LIFT OPERATION: Goryu Toomi, Hakuba 47, Happo-One, Tsugaike Kogen and Kashimayari upper slopes open.
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