ニュース
Hokkaido Gales and Heavy Snow to the 8th: Up to 40 cm in 24h
Start-of-winter cold wave hits Hokkaido: gales and heavy snow through the 8th
On the 6th, the Sapporo Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency urged people in Hokkaido to beware of violent winds and high waves from the night of the 6th through the 8th. On the northern Sea of Japan side, extra care is needed from the 7th to the 8th for traffic disruption caused by heavy snow. News reports put the 24-hour snowfall at up to 40 cm. [1]
Rapidly deepening low and early-December cold air aloft
According to the weather office, a low-pressure system over the northern Sea of Japan will deepen rapidly as it moves east of the Kuril Islands, strengthening the winter pressure pattern. Cold air comparable to early December will move in at about 1,500 m, making the atmosphere unstable across Hokkaido. Snow is expected over a wide area on the 7th, with strong winds and a risk of blizzards that cut visibility. [2]
Lowland snow not expected to settle yet
Forecasts for Hokkaido call for 5 to 15 cm of snow even in the city of Sapporo. However, the snow is not expected to become nezuki (the snow cover that stays on the ground all winter) anywhere in the prefecture yet. In a normal year, nezuki arrives in late November in northern Hokkaido and in early December around Sapporo. Because the snow will repeatedly accumulate, melt and freeze, road conditions can change within a short time. [3]
Mountains and passes in Tohoku and Kanto-Koshin may also see snow
A morning briefing on the 6th from the Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp) said some lowland areas in Tohoku could see snow through the 7th. Snow is also possible in the mountains and passes of Hokuriku and Kanto-Koshin. If you are driving, check your tires and equipment early. [4]
Before you head out to ride
This is stormy weather with strong winds. Rather than a story about snow on the slopes, think of it as a time to check on travel and mountain conditions. You can see how snow is building up on the mountains through each resort's live cam.
Resorts that have opened this season, and planned opening dates, are collected on our opening information page. Please also check each resort's official announcements.
Sources
- Hokkaido weather: heavy snow of up to 40 cm in 24 hours expected from the night of the 6th to the 8th (HBC News Hokkaido)
- Low pressure deepens rapidly over Hokkaido: blizzards and heavy snow possible through the 7th (STV News Hokkaido)
- Heavy snow and storm information: start-of-winter cold wave hits Hokkaido (Hokkaido News UHB)
- From tonight the 6th, beware of storms in Hokkaido, with blizzards in places; mountains and passes near Kanto gradually see snow too (Japan Weather Association, tenki.jp)
Prepared with AI assistance from public sources. Always check each resort's official website for the latest information.