Start with the upper-mountain wind and cloud line. The headline number only helps once you know whether a cold inland trough is the pattern to watch. With a 1325 to 2307 metre elevation band and 980 metres of vertical, the trees and upper storm laps hold soft snow well after the open faces are worked. A seasonal baseline around 10 metres means moderate-looking totals can still refresh the main lines quickly. The swing variable is whether the upper lift can run with enough visibility to make the top worth using. Use the access rules on the day as the limit, then let the wind and temperature decide how far to push it. 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 Nagano are getting the best 24 hour totals and the next two days of snow.
