OpenSnow Introduces New Daily Snow Forecast For Japan

As U.S. skiers and snowboarders continue to flock to the mountains of Japan, OpenSnow, a trusted source for the most accurate U.S. weather forecasts, snow reports, and weather maps, is launching a new Daily Snow forecast there. Celebrated for its often massive snowfalls and exceptionally light snow quality, Japan is ranked among the top powder-skiing destinations in the world and regularly on the bucket list of powderhounds seeking the euphoric feeling of laying fresh tracks in deep snow. For these reasons, it’s the next natural location for OpenSnow to feature with an ongoing, dedicated snow forecast.

OpenSnow tapped Luke Stone as its Japan Daily Snow forecaster, with fresh forecasts to be produced every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the remainder of the season. As mentioned in his initial post, January to mid-February is the best time of the year to ski and ride in Japan, as the frequency of storms is high. 

“Already, the mountains in Japan have received impressive snowfall from the storm cycles that have moved through over the past couple of weeks,” said Stone. “We have entered the heart of the season for Japan, where the base depths are getting deeper, and the storm cycles tend to ramp up, so having a specific, detailed forecast offers the extra info people planning a trip to Japan need to get the most out of it. 

Stone’s forecasts will cover most of the country, including his insights related to central and northern Honshu and Hokkaido, why some storms favor certain regions over others, specific weather phenomena that produce major snowfall accumulations in specific areas, and the necessary information skiers and riders want to know – including whether to book a trip now or wait for the next storm system. He has spent time in Japan previously, and is there now, breaking down the important features of incoming storms in addition to the automated forecast data OpenSnow offers.

Stone earned his M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Utah, with a research focus on seasonal forecasting. He has scored deep days around the world, including coast-to-coast across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.

Skiers and riders both with pre-booked travel plans, and those who have the flexibility to book travel when conditions are favorable will benefit from the level of detail shared in OpenSnow’s Japan Daily Snow forecast and Japan 15-day Forecast.

Leveraging its own proprietary forecasting technology, including its new AI-powered forecasting models, OpenSnow’s forecasts are up to 50% more accurate than standard forecasting models in mountainous terrain. Learn more about OpenSnow’s Base and Premium subscriptions and how they can be shared by up to four people at OpenSnow.com and by downloading the OpenSnow app.