Snoqualmie Pass, WA – The search for missing backcountry skier Monty Busbee was suspended on Monday afternoon due to increasing avalanche danger on Snoqualmie Pass, Kings County Sheriff’s Office officials indicate.

Busbee, 43, of Maple Valley, parked his truck near the Lower Summit West parking lot at Snoqualmie Pass on Saturday intending to ski the backcountry near Commonwealth Basin and the Kendall Tree area alone. He hasn’t been heard from since.

The Sheriff’s office indicates that they’ll reassess the situation in the morning, although the National Weather Service has put the region under a Winter Storm Warning overnight and the forecast calls for another 6-10 inches of new snowfall tonight and 2-4 inches during the day tomorrow. Meteorologists expect the storm to ramp up again tomorrow night and Wednesday with another 18-28 inches of snow predicted before the storm winds down on Thursday.

Busbee is said to be an experienced backcountry skier who is usually properly equipped, although avalanche rescue gear serves almost no purpose when skiing alone. The Kings County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Busbee to contact them by dialing 911.

Also in the area, a skier at the Summit at Snoqualmie resort on Snoqualmie Pass died after falling into a tree well on Sunday.