Asia Weekly Roundup #235

Korean Ski Season on a Heatwave: Resorts Struggle as Winter Gives Way to Rising Temperatures

• Mixed weather with warm highs and occasional light snow showers, leaving slushy conditions; Niseko maintains deepest snow, Hakuba has most terrain open.
• In Japan, temperatures are predicted to rise to +10°C, and will be mostly dry but some light snow possible on high slopes.
• In China, temperatures could rise to +12°C during the day, staying mostly dry but some rain or sleet at lower elevations.

JAPAN REPORT

It’s been a week of mixed weather for Japanese ski slopes, although springtime warm highs in the +4 to +8°C in the afternoons and occasional light snow showers have tended to win the day most days, leaving the snow a little slushy and sometimes with low visibility as the moist air brings mist. Although we have also seen some fresh light snowfall at times on high slopes. Warm winds up from the south haven't helped matters and the first week of April has been one of the warmest of the year to date across much of the country. Niseko (235/350cm / 94/140”) continues to post Japan’s deepest lying snow and has about 50% of its terrain open. Hakuba (80/200cm / 32/80”) has the most terrain open at just over 60%.

JAPAN FORECAST

Temperatures continuing to climb to +10°C in resort bases by the weekend. Expect mostly dry weather but with some light snowfall possible on high slopes.

CHINA REPORT

Another week with little or no fresh snowfall to report in Chinese ski areas. This time last year saw a big dump in Chongli, which helped them through the first half of April, but they haven't had that this year and temperatures have been warming up. The already quite extended ski season in China is therefore coming to a close at most areas with just a handful expected to keep going into May.

CHINA FORECAST

Temperatures climbing with daytime highs up to +12°C and just below freezing at night at 2000m altitudes. Mostly dry but some rain or sleet showers at lower elevations.

KOREA REPORT

It’s been a mild week in South Korean ski areas, which is continuing a trend of what’s been one of the warmest winters in recent memory in the region. We’re still seeing snowfall from time to time up high but at resort level temperatures have been getting into the high 40s some days. Some ski areas have closed for the season in the past week or two with most doing so at the end of the month.

KOREA FORECAST

A similar pattern with temperatures climbing to +10°C at resort bases over the next few days and likely to be up to +5°C even on high slopes. Mostly dry but some rain or sleet showers at lower elevations.