Start with overnight snowfall and wind direction. The headline number only helps once you know whether west to northwest flow off the Sea of Japan is the pattern to watch. With a 537 to 1200 metre elevation band and 663 metres of vertical, the trees and upper storm laps hold soft snow well after the open faces are worked. A seasonal baseline around 9 metres means small clean refills matter more than waiting for a giant number. The swing variable is wind: light flow lets the trees refill, while a hard blast strips the exposed entrances. If you are looking beyond the ropes, only chase that angle when the forecast also shows settled wind and stable visibility. Chase it when 10 to 20 cm lands overnight with light to moderate wind; if gusts climb, make it a sheltered-tree day.
See which resorts in Akita are getting the best 24 hour totals and the next two days of snow.
