Hakuba Snow Report – 22nd Feb 2012

Weather conditions: Some cloud, clearing skies, sunshine
New snowfall: Nil
Snow depth: 145cm (Village); 315cm (Top of Goryu)
The overnight cloud cover is dissipating and we are expecting clear skies this morning. The afternoon may see some cloud cover returning over the valley, but remain clear up high as the new weather system approaches. It is a system coming from the South and will bring warmer air masses and precipitation – likely rain down below tomorrow, hopefully snow higher up.In the valley this morning it is -2.5 C and expected to reach upto 8 C. Up on the resorts it will range from -1 C to 3 C near the bottom of the slopes and -3 C to -6 C up high. The freezing level is on its way up and will reach 1450m in the day creating soft snow conditions. Winds are Light and will flow from the SSW and SSE.Tonight the freezing level is expected to rise to 1900m and will continue to rise through Thursday peaking at around 2450m. It will remain cloudy until the evening when we will start to see clearings for Friday. Cloudy periods will be mixed with clearings through the weekend with freezing levels lowering. By Monday we will again see clear skies and colder conditions.