The small storms are adding up, with the upper elevations in the Provo area mountains having about a fott of snow since the 20th. There have been 2 skier triggered slab avalanches in the last 5 days breaking near ground on weak, sugary faceted snow in the Salt Lake/Park City area mountains - in South Monitor and in Days Draw . Both slopes had a shallow snowpack because they avalanched earlier this winter (know as “repeaters”). This weak faceted snow layer is most widespread on upper elevation northwest through north through easterly facing terrain. Your are most likely to trigger a slide on this weak persistent layer on slopes with a shallow snow pack, less than about a meter deep, including “repeater” slopes. Many slopes in the Provo area mountains have a thinner snow pack, including some mid elevation, shady slopes.

The low density snow could sluff today, especially during any periods of heavy snowfall. Even in wind sheltered areas, there could be natural sluffs after a few hours of heavy snowfall. Small sluffs can be serious if they take you into trees, off a cliff or for a long ride, so choose your terrain carefully and use slope cuts to minimize the chance of going for a ride. Some of the Provo Canyon ice climbs have long snow filled gullies above them, that could produce sluffs, especially if the winds pick up.

Loose snow sluffs Mark White photo