Will La Niña Arrive in Time for Japan's 2024-2025 Ski Season?
Japow — Japan Powder Snow. (Image Credit: Mountain Watch)
5 things every skier or snowboarder needs to know about the phenomenon
La Niña–mention this term to any experienced skier and snowboarder, and watch as their eyes glow in uncontrollable excitement. Think you know everything about La Niña? What exactly is La Niña and why should you care? For one, it could mean the difference between a fun season and an epic one.
More importantly, you can impress your friends when you’re on the ski lift. Try memorizing some of this trivia about La Niña, and we are sure you will find some use for them either on the slopes or during après-ski.
1. La Niña is the opposite of El Niño and they form an oscillating climate system in the Pacific Ocean
Simply put, the climate in the tropical Pacific Ocean swings between El Niño and La Niña every 3-7 years on average. This is referred to by climate scientists as the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). El Niño is the warm phase of this cycle, which brings above-average sea surface temperatures, while La Niña is the colder extreme phase of the cycle. This is a naturally occurring phenomenon, although it has been impacted by human activities and climate change.
2. El Niño was first noticed and named by South American fishermen
Back in the 17th century, noticing warmer than usual water in the Pacific Ocean usually peaking around the end of the year, South American fishermen dubbed the phenomenon “El Niño de Navidad.” Meaning “The Boy Child of Christmas” in Spanish–referring to the infant Jesus–this was a reference to the phenomenon’s tendency to arrive around Christmas. Later, La Niña, or “The Girl Child” was coined as the opposite of El Niño.
3. La Niña means colder temperatures, and usually more snowfall
The shifting of sea temperatures between warm and cool in the Pacific Ocean has a massive impact on global temperatures–and you guessed it–snowfall. Snow needs cold air to form and stay that way without melting into oblivion.
All across the world, winter sports enthusiasts anxiously await the arrival of La Niña because of the cooler temperatures and the epic snowfall it is known to bring.
Plus, the arrival of La Niña also promises a longer season. Last year’s warm winter saw many early ski resort closures in Japan–some as early as late March. Even resorts in Hokkaido had trouble staying open till early May. If La Niña struts through winter’s door, bringing colder temperatures–rejoice because ski resorts will likely be able to stay open longer.
4. The highly anticipated La Niña has yet to make an appearance this year
Forecasters initially expected La Nina conditions to appear earlier this year. That has yet to happen. In September, the World Meteorological Association predicted a 60% chance of La Niña, while the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) was more conservatively, expecting a 50-50 chance of La Niña occurring in the winter of 2025. They also highlight that even if La Niña were to arrive, the effect would be weak.
5. Both La Niña and El Niño are difficult to forecast
Despite all the advanced computer modeling we have today, the earth is a complex system, with countless variables. While the ENSO is predictable to an extent, extremely small factors that tip the system into either extreme cannot be accurately forecasted. Even so, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States expects La Niña to develop shortly. So, keep your fingers crossed.
What does this mean for you as a skier or snowboarder? Well, there’s no point worrying too much about something you cannot control, let alone predict. Let nature take its course.
Focus on what you can control–choosing to go on a ski/snowboard trip regardless of La Niña’s absence of arrival. Because deep down, you already know what your heart wants–nothing is going to stop you from hitting the slopes.
There’s a silver lining. The JMA predicts a 40% chance of more than-average snowfall from December to February. And if you’re a skier or snowboarder–La Niña or not–that’s all that matters.
Explore the best ski resorts in Japan—hassle and worry-free
Skiing Japow–La Niña or not–can be an extremely exhilarating experience and possibly one of the most fun winter experiences a skier or snowboarder can enjoy.
After an entire day of skiing Japan’s finest powder, treat yourself to a uniquely Japanese après-ski experience at a local Japanese izakaya, refueling with the best of Japan’s winter cuisine like oden, hot pot, fresh fatty tuna sashimi, and warm sake.
Then, soothe your aching muscles by taking a well-deserved soak at an onsen. It truly is one of the most pleasurable experiences of life.
The best part? Getting to a ski resort in Japan doesn’t have to be complicated at all. You don’t need to put yourself through the hassle of figuring out the local transportation while lugging all that heavy and bulky gear–all just to get to a ski town. A private tour with TokudAw guarantees that you get to the ski resorts of your dreams without any travel complications or language barriers.
