Akakura Onsen is warm and sunny today – hardly a cloud to be seen and an expected top of 10 degrees C. Clouds are expected to move in over night and bring rain by Thursday evening with heavy rain forecast for Friday morning, Saturday night and Monday night. So lots of slushy skiing fun to be had today and tomorrow before the rain comes and lets just hope it gets cold sometime soon….

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Light southwesterly wind and an expected top of 10 degrees C. Excellent visibility.

Official statistics:

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

It is a very spring time feel here in Akakura Onsen today, with temperatures well above zero, sun in the sky and slushy conditions on the hill. A top of 6 degrees C is forecast for today and Thursday is looking extra warm with a top of around 13 degrees C before rain on Friday, Saturday and into Sunday morning. Not good for the snow pack but let’s hope it can hang in there until this “fake spring” blows over and we get back to the serious business of winter ….. hopefully!

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Light southwesterly wind and an expected top of 6 degrees C. Excellent visibility.

Official statistics:

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

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A little bit of new snow has fallen overnight, but less than 5cm so it’s not going to do much to help the sliding conditions. Still, it’s better than rain and it should continue through until Sunday morning. Indeed heavy snow is forecast for the upper slopes of Akakura this afternoon and tonight, with a total of around 30cm predicted by tomorrow morning. It has in fact started to snow lightly as I type this report.

New Snow (Resort): <5 cm

New Snow (Village): <5 cm

Weather: Very light northeasterly wind this morning expected to swing southeasterly in the afternoon before turning northeasterly again this evening. Light to moderate snow expected today and heavy snow tonight. Visibility will be affected by fog and snowfall.

Official statistics:

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

A panoramic view to the coast from above Tsubame on a nice sunny day

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Still raining, but it’s trying to snow….

Temperatures are finally starting to return to a wintry level here in Akakura Onsen, although the official reports show freezing level has not yet been reached at several resorts. It is forecast to continue getting cooler quickly today as a very light northerly brings light snow in the afternoon and evening. Those conditions should persist right through to Sunday morning providing some much needed repair to the rain affected slopes. The snow depth is down more than 50cm at Akakura Kanko, partly because the new snow had not settled, but that’s still a big drop….

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Very light northerly wind in the afternoon bringing colder conditions and light snow. Rain and fog affecting visibility this morning.

Official statistics:

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

Great weather for an Onsen….

Outside of the village of Akakura Onsen, there are two main onsens that are easily accessible from the Mt. Myoko shuttle bus; “Landmark” in Ikenotaira (left) and “Naena no yu” in Suginosawa (right), just near Suginohara ski area. Both are supplied with natural hot spring water from high on the slopes of Mt. Myoko and are an excellent way to relax and soothe the muscles after skiing or boarding.

From Myoko – Onsens

From Myoko – Onsens

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It is a foggy morning here in Akakura Onsen with some light rain still falling. The forecast came true yesterday and from about 3pm it started raining in earnest and was fairly heavy late into the night. It is expected to keep raining until tomorrow morning when temperatures should drop and turn the precipitation to snow. Light snow and snow showers are forecast for the rest of the week. A relatively strong southwesterly wind this morning will weaken and turn northwesterly bringing the colder system with it. Today’s maximum temperature will be around 5 degrees C – very much like spring weather…..

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Moderate southwesterly winds weakening throughout the day and turning northwesterly. Poor visibility this morning with rain and fog. Very heavy rain effected snow today.

Official statistics:

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

Making the most of the good weather and great snow conditions by hiking up towards Maeyama yesterday morning

From Myoko 8/2/2010

From Myoko 8/2/2010

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Big dump coming tonight?

After a fine and sunny start to the day it has started snowing lightly already. There is a moderate westerly breeze and it is forecast to bring some fairly heavy snow to the area this afternoon and this evening – local news reports have suggested up to 70cm may fall in some areas! At the very least we should get around 30cm over the next 24 hours which will keep the excellent conditions we’ve had for the last few days going into the weekend. The evil specter of rain still looms ominously on the outlook around Monday night, so we’ll just have to wait and see what that brings

New Snow (Resort): <1 cm

New Snow (Village): <1 cm

Weather: Light snow now after a fine start to the day. Forecast to get heavier in the afternoon with the possibility of very heavy snow storms reported on the local news here. Moderately strong westerly wind and a forecast maximum of -3 degrees C. Visibility will be fair this morning and decreasing in the afternoon.

Official statistics:

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

The sun sets behind the Akakura Kanko figure-heads; a snowman and a sun shaped head wearing sunglasses…..

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