Asia Weekly Roundup #231

• Charmant Hiuchi Ski Area reports nearly four metres of snow depth.
• Niseko's upper snow base drops below 3 metres for the first time in months.
• Niseko experiences one of its lowest February snowfalls in a decade.

Japan Snow Report

It's been a week of fluctuating weather conditions across Japan's snowfields. There have been some warmer, sunny days when the snowpack has thawed a little, interspersed with colder temperatures and 'full winter' days with the snow coming down as the two seasons battle for overall control. Snowy weather is still winning, though, as after the small changes over the past few weeks we are seeing the snow depth numbers widely up 25-50cm (10-20") this week, with a new deepest snow depth nearing four metres reported by Charmant Hiuchi Ski Area (50/380cm / 20/152") by Itoigawa City in Niigata. Myoko posted a 40cm (16") 24-hour accumulation. Niseko (110/295cm / 44/118"), though, has seen its upper base drop below 3 metres (10 feet) for the first time in several months. SnowJapan.com reports Niseko's February snowfall total was one of the lowest of the past decade, although its season total has now passed 8 metres, and it did snow, mostly modestly, on 22 days out of 29 last month.

JAPAN FORECAST
As we move into March, there will be more light snowfall daily, with 5-10cm (2-4") accumulations expected most days over the week ahead. Temperatures will remain below freezing, typically in the -2 to -12C range for most of the time.