2009/10 Daily Data

A sortable table of historical data for the 2009/10 season can be found HERE

All data comes from 800m in the Ochikura area of Hakuba.

Notes to the data
The data collected here is a reflection of the standard weather observations used by the Canadian Avalanche Association (and taught in their Level 1 Ski Operations course). I have omitted a few data points, such as relative humidity, due to inaccuracy of available instruments in cold weather and also because of the redundancy of such data when recorded at valley floor (humidity is far more meaningful above tree line).

Data is used in assessing snowpack stability. It is best if the data is gathered from a site closest to the environment in which you will ski. For many ski operations this is mostly impractical as measurements must be recorded at 0700 or earlier each day, thus dependency on lift systems and helicopters is a problem. I am lucky to live in a non-suburban area of Hakuba with easy access to my weather station at 800m. Whilst it is not ideal, at a minimum the weather station should produce data that correlates with snow pack stability.

 

Comment on Snow Density

Density is measured as mass per unit volume.  These data observations measure snow density as kg/m3.  That is, a square block of snow 100cmx100cmx100cm would weigh so much, expressed in kg.  For reference:  ice has a density of 917 kg/m3.  New snow is considered very light if it has a density of 30 kg/m3.

To determine the percentage of air in a new fall of snow:  (1-density of new snow / density of ice) x 100.

Example: (1 - 30 / 917) x 100 = 97% air and only 3% ice.  Thats very blower powder.

Quick links to other recently active or new content

New ContentCommentsLast Active
Fast Lars 01 week 6 days ago
Onagiyama 22 weeks 1 day ago
Happy Birthday Mio 26 weeks 1 day ago
20100121 Happo North Avalanche 06 weeks 5 days ago
2009/10 Season 06 weeks 5 days ago
Hakuba backcountry skiing 07 weeks 3 hours ago
2009/10 Daily Data 012 weeks 4 hours ago
Harinoki 513 weeks 4 days ago
First turns 2009/10 season 814 weeks 4 days ago
First Snow 2009 819 weeks 5 days ago
TR: 3 peaks 1 day 1238 weeks 1 day ago
Hokkaido Round 2 243 weeks 4 days ago
TR: Four Peak Nirvana 844 weeks 4 days ago
TR: Hokkaido Research 244 weeks 4 days ago
Corn 09 045 weeks 4 days ago
Mio's day off 349 weeks 1 day ago
No pictures of perfection 249 weeks 1 day ago
This week's powder 051 weeks 6 days ago
Temporary Powder 551 weeks 6 days ago
Holy Crust! 41 year 2 days ago
Mid Season Comparison 01 year 2 weeks ago
Two days two classic tours 31 year 2 weeks ago
Weather and snow stability data updates 01 year 2 weeks ago
More fun 31 year 3 weeks ago
Raicho 21 year 3 weeks ago
Shitty Tengu Flutes 11 year 3 weeks ago
Chronic wind 61 year 3 weeks ago
20090211 Happo Gara Gara Zawa 01 year 3 weeks ago
Guides and Guiding 31 year 4 weeks ago
20090209 Tengupara Higashi 01 year 4 weeks ago