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Madarao ski resort
Indy PassBuy pass
Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar

📷 Madarao

Asia

Madarao

Off-season

Closed for the season · reopens Dec 13

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:05 PM UTC · informational only

Off-season

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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14-Day Forecast

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Updated: Aug 21, 4:05 PM•Weather at base: 910m

Overview

Madarao is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Closed for the season · reopens Dec 13). Conditions last updated 2026-08-21 16:05 UTC.

Resort Guide

Madarao Mountain Resort is located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and features 31 diverse courses across 138 hectares of skiable terrain. The resort is known for its abundant powder snow, tree runs, and relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Key amenities include ski-in/ski-out accommodations, English-speaking staff, and a variety of dining options, making it accessible for international visitors. Madarao stands out for its unique ungroomed runs and natural terrain, appealing to both powder enthusiasts and those seeking a laid-back alpine experience.

Resort Info

Summit1382m
Base910m
Vertical472m
Lifts10
Runs30
Skiable Area212.5 acres
Average snowfall472 inches / 1200 cm
CountryJapan
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Projected openingDecember 13, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Indy Pass

Buy pass →

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Shaggy Yak – This cozy bar and lounge is renowned for its warm atmosphere, craft beers, and creative cocktails, making it a favorite après-ski spot for both locals and visitors seeking to unwind after a day on Madarao’s slopes.

Snow Summary

1382mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 4:05 PM

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Snowfall Forecast Maps

Japanese Alps region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 21, 04:05 PM UTC

Base

910m

Temp

18.8°C

Wind

0.8km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Mid-Mountain

1146m

Temp

--°C

Wind

1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

1382m

Temp

16.7°C

Wind

1.3km/h

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14-Day Forecast

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El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Madarao El Niño rank & forecast

Madarao ranks #101 of 152 SnowSure resorts — Tier D, −6% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar: Often a bit lighter early (−3% to −8% vs normal). History favors waiting for peak-depth months (often Feb–Mar) rather than skipping the resort.

#101 of 152Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar

Strong-event signal: −6% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Madarao averaged -6% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Not a warning — a scheduling note. El Niño winters here tend to hit the season's edges hardest — Japan's big snow window runs mid-December to mid-February, and the January–February core signal is closer to neutral. Aim the mid-winter core (January to mid-February) for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -21%, '15-16 -36%, '23-24 +40%.

'97-98 −21%'15-16 −36%'23-24 +40%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Madarao Webcam

All Webcams

Madarao

1 webcam • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Madarao (japan), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 21, 4:05 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Sat, Aug 22
22 / 163.2mm
Sun, Aug 23
23 / 174.3mm
Mon, Aug 24
24 / 161.8mm
Tue, Aug 25
24 / 161.2mm
Wed, Aug 26
25 / 170.6mm
Thu, Aug 27
19 / 156.6mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)0.80.91.50.23.60.50.41.30.10.20.90.10.20.404.12.10.4
Temp (°C)192117202117202317212218222418181817
Wind (km/h)4824424716102572452
Gusts (km/h)183211182310172510182416212619262520

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (1382m)

ECMWF
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JMA
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Sat

22

🌧️

22°

16°

10 km/h

Sun

23

🌧️

22.5°

16.8°

7 km/h

Mon

24

🌧️

23.8°

16.3°

8 km/h

Tue

25

🌧️

23.5°

16.1°

11 km/h

Wed

26

🌧️

24.7°

17.2°

8 km/h

Thu

27

🌧️

18.6°

14.7°

6 km/h

Fri

28

🌧️

20.4°

14°

7 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

18.8°

14.8°

7 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

17°

15°

12 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

22.8°

17.1°

8 km/h

Summit elevation (1382m) • ECMWF model

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:05 PM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 475cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 361cm full-season avg

475cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~413.3 cm. That's 13% below the 5-year average (475 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 14% above the 30-year average (361 cm).

Madarao Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 375cm with an average of 106 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November19cm9 days2cm10cm6.4cm
December85.8cm23 days30cm72cm13.7cm
January114.8cm27 days105cm139cm16cm
February81.9cm22 days149cm170cm13.2cm
March59.7cm19 days146cm168cm11.6cm
April13cm6 days81cm130cm6.1cm
May0.1cm0 days7cm38cm0.6cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Dec 13, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Madarao, ERA5 season snowfall median was 349 cm (137 in), about this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

349 cm

10 El Niño winters · ≈ long-term median

All-season median

350 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10349 cm304 cm – 438 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12350 cm298 cm – 468 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8351 cm276 cm – 473 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

January

Peak Powder

February

Peak Powder

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Madarao

Where is Madarao?
Madarao is a ski resort in Japan.
How high is Madarao?
Madarao runs from a base elevation of 910 m (2,986 ft) to a summit of 1,382 m (4,534 ft), giving a vertical drop of 472 m (1,549 ft).
How big is Madarao?
Madarao has 525 acres (213 hectares) of skiable terrain, 30 marked runs and 10 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Madarao?
Madarao is on the Indy Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
How much snow does Madarao get in a typical season?
Madarao averages 472 inches / 1200 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Madarao in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #101 of 152 SnowSure resorts · Tier D · strong-event signal −6% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Madarao averaged -6% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Not a warning — a scheduling note. El Niño winters here tend to hit the season's edges hardest — Japan's big snow window runs mid-December to mid-February, and the January–February core signal is closer to neutral. Aim the mid-winter core (January to mid-February) for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -21%, '15-16 -36%, '23-24 +40%.