Asia Weekly Roundup #238

Spring Skiing Spectacle: Japan's Late-Season Slopes Shine Amidst Sunny Days and Wet Snow

• Late-season conditions in Japan: Ski areas experiencing temperatures between 0 to +10°C with mostly sunny weather, wet snow, occasional light rain showers, and hill fog.
• Extended season: About a dozen ski centers remain open, with most expected to continue operating until the end of the first weekend of May, albeit with reduced open terrain.
• Record snowpack: Gassan summer ski area boasts the world's deepest snowpack, with remarkable snow depths of 300/750cm (120/300").

JAPAN REPORT

The season wind down continues in Japan where ski areas still open have reported temperatures predominantly in the 0 to +10C range, mostly sunny weather, wet snow, with occasional light rain showers and hill fog. About a dozen ski centres remain open with most expecting to remain so to the end of the first weekend of May. However open terrain has dropped to the upper 10-30% of most mountains. Niseko (10/200cm / 4/80”) has just over 10 miles (16km) of higher runs still available. The country’s Gassan summer ski area (300/750cm / 120/300”) is currently posting the world’s deepest snowpack.

JAPAN FORECAST

More typical springtime weather with temperatures still climbing and likely to hit +20C in the afternoons at resort level this week. Sunny spells with rain showers likely. Overnight lows still getting down towards freezing up high but generally too warm for any more snowfall now.