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City in Hokkaido, Japan
Otaru
Canal-side port town near Sapporo, with heavy winter snow and a February snow-light festival.
Forecast updated , when it was 19:00 in Otaru (GMT+9).
Otaru snow forecast
Next 24 hours
No snow in the next 24 hours.
Snow arrives on Thursday, with 0–20 cm over the next 7 days.
High confidence, all three forecast models agree
No snow is forecast for Otaru in the next 24 hours, but 0–20 cm (0–7 in) is forecast over the next 7 days, starting on Thursday. Two of the three weather models we compare forecast snow this week. Expect temperatures from 6 to 10 °C (43 to 50 °F) and the freezing level near 2,100 m (6,900 ft) over the next day. It should be sunny on Saturday.
- Temperature now
- 8 °C (46 °F)
- Freezing level
- 2,100 m (6,900 ft)
- Wind
- 11 km/h (7 mph), gusts 18 km/h (11 mph)
- Sky now
- Mostly clear, 21% cloud
Otaru hour by hour
Hourly snowfallNo rain or snow in Otaru in the next 24 hours.
Otaru 7-day snow forecast
| Day | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| Tonight | Dry8 °C (46 °F) · freezing level 2,000 m (6,600 ft) | No snow |
| Sat | Sunny6 to 10 °C (43 to 50 °F) · freezing level 1,200 m (3,900 ft) | No snow |
| Sun | Rain5 to 8 °C (41 to 46 °F) · freezing level 1,300 m (4,300 ft) | No snow |
| Mon | Rain3 to 7 °C (37 to 45 °F) · gusts 54 km/h (34 mph) · freezing level 600 m (2,000 ft) | No snow |
| Tue | Cloudy2 to 5 °C (36 to 41 °F) · freezing level 450 m (1,500 ft) | No snow |
| Wed | Rain2 to 13 °C (36 to 55 °F) · gusts 57 km/h (35 mph) · freezing level 1,700 m (5,600 ft) | No snow |
| Thu | Rain and snow0 to 9 °C (32 to 48 °F) · gusts 80 km/h (50 mph) · freezing level 450 m (1,500 ft) | 0–5 cm (0–2 in) |
Sky is graded over the ski day, 9am to 4pm. Bluebird means at least two of the three models show clear skies all day, none shows overcast, and no snow or rain is forecast. Models are weaker on cloud than on snow, and none of them can see valley fog, so treat it as a good sign rather than a promise.
Otaru 14-day snow outlook
Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.
| Day | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 20 Nov | Snow0 to 1 °C (32 to 34 °F) · 2 of 2 models show snow | 3–20 cm (1–7 in) |
| Sat 21 Nov | Snow−2 to 1 °C (28 to 34 °F) · 2 of 2 models show snow | 2–6 cm (1–3 in) |
| Sun 22 Nov | Snow−2 to 1 °C (28 to 34 °F) · 2 of 2 models show snow | 2–3 cm (1–2 in) |
| Mon 23 Nov | Chance of snow−2 to 3 °C (28 to 37 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–2 cm (under 1 in) |
| Tue 24 Nov | Rain−1 to 3 °C (30 to 37 °F) | No snow |
| Wed 25 Nov | Chance of snow−1 to 1 °C (30 to 34 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–5 cm (0–2 in) |
| Thu 26 Nov | Cloudy−2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F) | No snow |
How much snow is there in Otaru?
No snow on the ground
This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes.
Where is Otaru?
When does it snow in Otaru?
In Otaru, snow falls on about 19 days in January in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from November to April.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 days | 17 days | 10 days | 3 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | <1 days | 9 days | 19 days |
Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.
Snow in Otaru month by month
Averages for 2016 to 2025, from ERA5 reanalysis data.
| Month | Snow days | Share of the year's snow | Low to high |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 25% | −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F) |
| February | 17 | 22% | −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F) |
| March | 10 | 14% | −1 to 4 °C (30 to 39 °F) |
| April | 3 | 2% | 4 to 10 °C (39 to 50 °F) |
| May | 0 | 0% | 10 to 17 °C (50 to 63 °F) |
| June | 0 | 0% | 14 to 20 °C (57 to 68 °F) |
| July | 0 | 0% | 19 to 25 °C (66 to 77 °F) |
| August | 0 | 0% | 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F) |
| September | 0 | 0% | 16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F) |
| October | <1 | 1% | 9 to 15 °C (48 to 59 °F) |
| November | 9 | 13% | 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F) |
| December | 19 | 24% | −3 to 1 °C (27 to 34 °F) |
Snow in Otaru in November
In November, Otaru gets snow on about 9 days, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F).
Snow in Otaru in December
In December, Otaru gets snow on about 19 days, and the month brings about 24% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 1 °C (27 to 34 °F).
Snow in Otaru in January
In January, Otaru gets snow on about 19 days, and the month brings about 25% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F).
Snow in Otaru in February
In February, Otaru gets snow on about 17 days, and the month brings about 22% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F).
Snow in Otaru in March
In March, Otaru gets snow on about 10 days, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −1 to 4 °C (30 to 39 °F).
Snow in Otaru in April
In April, Otaru gets snow on about 3 days, and the month brings about 2% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 4 to 10 °C (39 to 50 °F).
Which winters were snowiest in Otaru?
Of the last ten winters in Otaru, 2021/22 was the snowiest, about 19% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019/20, about 19% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 22 December 2016.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 108% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 109% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 90% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 81% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 93% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 119% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 113% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 88% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 106% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 91% of average |
Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.
Questions about snow in Otaru
Does Otaru have snow at Christmas?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.
Does Otaru have snow at New Year?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in every one of those years.
Does Otaru have snow in mid-February?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.
Does Otaru have snow at Easter?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 3 of those years.
How many days a year does it snow in Otaru?
It snows on about 78 days a year in Otaru, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. January has the most, about 19 days.
What is the snowiest month in Otaru?
January is the snowiest month in Otaru, bringing about 25% of the year's snowfall, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Otaru?
Of the last ten winters in Otaru, 2021/22 was the snowiest, about 19% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019/20, about 19% below average.
How cold does Otaru get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Otaru, with average daily lows of −5 °C (23 °F) and highs of −1 °C (30 °F).
Snow forecasts near Otaru
Nearest ski resorts to Otaru
Sources: Otaru on Wikidata, Elevation from the Open-Meteo terrain model at the city centre coordinates