Start with the upper-mountain wind and cloud line. When a cold inland trough is the pattern to watch, the live numbers usually matter most in the first lift window. With a 1200 to 1904 metre elevation band and 704 metres of vertical, the bigger vertical gives you room to move higher when the lower runs soften. A seasonal baseline around 8 metres means small clean refills matter more than waiting for a giant number. The swing variable is whether the upper lift can run with enough visibility to make the top worth using. If you are looking beyond the ropes, only chase that angle when the forecast also shows settled wind and stable visibility. Chase it after a cold storm only if the wind eases; if the top is socked in, wait for the next clear window.
See which resorts in Nagano are getting the best 24 hour totals and the next two days of snow.
