Photographers favourite jacket. Nozawa Onsen yesterday lunchtime
Base at top: 150 cm
Temp at Top: -8 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 105 cm
New snow since close: 15 cm
Weather: Snow
The season is continuing on its upward trend here in Nozawa Onsen. Since last lifts yesterday we have seen snowfalls continue providing an addition 15cm of fresh cover. Excellent riding is to be expected resort wide today with significantly less crowds than there has been (till tomorrows long weekend) and fresh powder in the vicinity of knee deep. It will be hard to pick a poor area to ski today. We expect occasional light flurries this morning, possible clearing to blue sky later this afternoon.
Yesterday was the second best day of the season. There was good coverage above mid station early, less down low. However with continued snowfalls throughout the day conditions became progressively better and by the end there was good coverage top to bottom. At times the lack of crowds and heavy snowfalls made it possible to find fresh tracks on piste, especially around lunchtime. The wind blasting over the upper resort made for many frozen faces and wind loaded slopes in certain areas. Caution should be high for avalanche activity.
Likewise, we are still more than on track for the week of the season (so far) next week. Yesterday a surprise downgrade of the forecast left many keen weather watchers disappointed however the weather models have come into line with an overall upgrade late yesterday. Worst case scenario next week we will have a run of decent snow for four or five days not unlike what we have had the past two. The best case scenario is something we all come to Japan for; bottomless pow and snowfalls measured in the meters. The overall prognosis will become much more certain within two days. Watch this space.
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