📷 Zao
Asia
Zao
Pre-season — not open yet
Projected to open December 5, 2026
Conditions data updated Tue, Jul 14, 08:08 AM UTC · informational only
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Closed for Season
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
Apr 8
Past 24 Hours
0cm
Past 48 Hours
0cm
Past 10 Days
0cm
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Snow Depth
--
Overview
Zao is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Projected to open December 5, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-07-14 08:08 UTC.
Resort Guide
Zao Onsen Ski Resort is located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, and is renowned for its expansive ski area, abundant natural hot springs, and the unique “snow monsters” (juhyo) formed by frost-covered trees. The resort features a variety of runs suitable for all levels, extensive lift access, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors can enjoy both skiing and relaxing in traditional onsen baths, making Zao a distinctive destination that blends winter sports with authentic Japanese cultural experiences.
Gallery
Click to expand • 2 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Zao
Lifts
35
Skiable area
1135.7 ac
Longest run
10 km / 6.2 mi
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Jupeer Zao – A popular après-ski bar located near the Zao Onsen ski area, Jupeer is renowned for its cozy atmosphere, local sake selection, and welcoming vibe, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.
Snow Summary
Updated Jul 14, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Historical data from Open-Meteo archive • Forecast from ECMWF IFS model
Snowfall Forecast Maps
Japan (Tohoku & Niigata) region
Current Conditions
Reported Tue, Jul 14, 08:08 AM UTC
Depth by source
every reading we have- GHCNBase 0cm
The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.
Base
780m
Temp
24°C
Wind
7.1km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Mid-Mountain
1221m
Temp
21.1°C
Wind
8km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Summit
1661m
Temp
18.3°C
Wind
7.1km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Live Conditions
Zao Webcams
Resort Webcam
Resort Webcam
Resort Webcam
Resort Webcam
Resort Webcam
Zao Mountain Resort / YouTube
Zao Mountain Resort / YouTube
Zao Mountain Resort / YouTube
Local Reports
0 reportsDaily 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 Zao (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 Jul 14, 8:08 AM
Today 19 / 142.1mm | Wed, Jul 15 22 / 131.6mm | Thu, Jul 16 21 / 141.7mm | Fri, Jul 17 19 / 131.5mm | Sat, Jul 18 14 / 1337.5mm | Sun, Jul 19 17 / 136.3mm | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night |
| Snow (cm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Precip (mm) | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 8.9 | 14.9 | 13.7 | 2 | 1.3 | 3 |
| Temp (°C) | 17 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
| Wind (km/h) | 9 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Gusts (km/h) | 29 | 29 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 39 | 31 | 17 | 18 | 33 | 15 | 25 | 27 | 20 | 12 | 19 | 17 |
14-Day Snow Forecast by Model
Summit elevation (1661m)
10-Day Forecast
Today
14
🌧️
19.4°
13.5°
11 km/h
Wed
15
🌧️
22.1°
12.8°
9 km/h
Thu
16
🌧️
20.7°
13.6°
13 km/h
Fri
17
🌧️
19°
13.4°
12 km/h
Sat
18
🌧️
14.2°
12.9°
13 km/h
Sun
19
🌧️
17°
13.1°
7 km/h
Mon
20
🌧️
17.4°
14.1°
5 km/h
Tue
21
🌧️
17.8°
10.3°
16 km/h
Wed
22
☁️
16.2°
9.9°
20 km/h
Thu
23
🌧️
14.5°
9.5°
6 km/h
Summit elevation (1661m) • ECMWF model
Season vs Historic
Updated Tue, Jul 14, 08:08 AM UTC
0cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
—
vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 291cm full-season avg
—
vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 291cm full-season avg
291cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
Over the past five years, snowfall has remained consistent with the 30-year average at 291 cm, indicating long-term stability. However, the most recent season's snowfall is 15% below the 5-year average, suggesting a notable short-term decrease. Despite this dip, the current season is 32% above the 30-year historic average, highlighting significant year-to-year variability and the presence of occasional high-snowfall years.
Zao Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 152cm with an average of 64 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 7.2cm | 4 days | 1cm | 5cm | 4.2cm |
| December | 32.3cm | 14 days | 11cm | 27cm | 8.2cm |
| January | 48.2cm | 18 days | 46cm | 65cm | 15.3cm |
| February | 29.1cm | 15 days | 64cm | 75cm | 8.1cm |
| March | 26.9cm | 11 days | 55cm | 72cm | 9.4cm |
| April | 9.5cm | 3 days | 14cm | 40cm | 8.5cm |
| May | 0.1cm | 0 days | 0cm | 6cm | 0.8cm |
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 5, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
January
Peak Powder
February
Peak Powder
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.
