Comparison
Furano vs Niseko United: which has more reliable snow?
Furano or Niseko United? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from thirty winters of weather data.
The season at a glance
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 30 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 3 months of the year, but Furano has had the edge more often. Month by month, Furano has the edge in December.
Month by month
November: Furano 0 of 30, Niseko United 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (16% and 8% of days).
December: Furano 18 of 30, Niseko United 12 of 30 snow-sure winters (87% and 79% of days).
January: Furano 30 of 30, Niseko United 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Furano 30 of 30, Niseko United 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Furano 30 of 30, Niseko United 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Furano 19 of 30, Niseko United 20 of 30 snow-sure winters (85% and 88% of days).
May: Furano 0 of 30, Niseko United 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (7% and 8% of days).
A snow-sure winter is one where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of that month’s days.
Height and terrain
Furano and Niseko United are 144 km apart as the crow flies. Furano first, then Niseko United: Village 245 m against 260 m; Mid-mountain 660 m against 784 m; Summit 1,074 m against 1,308 m. Mapped downhill runs: Furano 26 km, Niseko United 59 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Furano and 100% at Niseko United.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Furano or Niseko United?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 3 months of the year, but Furano has had the edge more often. Month by month, Furano has the edge in December.
Which has better snow down to the village, Furano or Niseko United?
In February, Furano: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 100%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.