Snowy mountains were deadly for four Utahns over the weekend, and forecasters predict the danger to continue for the next two weeks.

Forecasters say that storms in the past eight days have placed heavy snow on a weak snowpack, resulting in high avalanche danger. More than 30 slides were reported last week.

Drew Hardesty, forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center, said this week's predicted weather of sun, storms and wind will only make conditions more dangerous.

The Utah Avalanche Center listed Provo in the "considerable" danger, or expert use only, category on Monday. The warning continues through today.

"I think the important thing to note is that the avalanche problem is not going to go away anytime soon," Hardesty said. "Things will remain very dangerous, particularly when the winds and storms roll through."

Unfortunately, some of the most dangerous places are also the most popular for backcountry recreationists. Hardesty listed Aspen Grove, the Timp Divide and the area above Tibble Creek reservoir as the most unpredictable places in Utah Valley.

"Provo mountains are the most radical mountains in the Wasatch," Hardesty said. "People can get in trouble pretty quick."

Hardesty said that even the most experienced skiers are getting caught. While snow settles, he said that skiers should stay at slopes that have a grade of 30 degrees, comparable to a blue run at a ski resort.

An avalanche on Sunday brought Utah's weekend avalanche death toll to three, with one Utah man killed in Idaho as well.

A 17-year-old boy from Massachusetts was caught in an avalanche while skiing near Snowbasin ski resort, the Associated Press reported.

On Saturday, Nicholas Guss Steinmann, 26, of Ogden was killed while snowmobiling in Bonneville County, Idaho. Sixteen-year-old Zachary Holmes of Farr West died in a slide near Tower Mountain in the Uinta Mountains, about 14 miles southeast of Heber City, the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office reported. Also Saturday, a 44-year-old Richfield snowmobiler died in a slide near Signal Peak in Sevier County.

The Utah deaths are the first in the state during this winter season, which began in October, according to statistics posted on the Avalanche Center Web site. Five others have been caught in slides -- three skiers and two snowshoers -- but only one person suffered critical injuries.

Utah statistics dating back to 1951 show that an average of four people die in avalanches each year, the AP reports. There were three deaths during the 2005-2006 season and a record eight deaths during the 2004-2005 season.

The National Weather Service reported that Monday's storm left 9 inches of snow at the Spanish Fork Power House by 9 a.m. The Power House has an elevation of 4,720 feet. Pleasant Grove, elevation 4,610 feet, reported 1.5 inches by 5 a.m.

The storm led to a commotion on Interstate 15, with three semi-trailers simultaneously off the road in Payson and 23 property damage-only accidents between 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on I-15 in Utah County.

"It's been busy, along with every accident there seems to be three to four slide-offs in the area," Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. George Alexanderson said. The sheriff's office responded to five accidents and assisted other agencies on Monday.

Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Preston Raban said most of the 25 slide-offs could be blamed on going too fast for road conditions, a citable offense.

The National Weather Service forecasts the weather clear until Thursday night, when a 50 percent chance of snow is possible. Snow is predicted for Friday and Saturday as well.

Natalie Andrews can be reached at 344-2548 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To hear the Utah Avalanche Center's recorded advisories:

(801) 364-1581 Salt Lake

(801) 364-1591 Salt Lake 6 a.m. detailed

(801) 742-0830 Little Cottonwood Canyon

(435) 658-5512 Park City

(801) 626-8600 Ogden

(801) 422-4333 Provo

Or go to the Utah Avalanche Center Web site: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/