( CNN ) -- Rescuers hoping to find two hikers missing on the frigid slopes of Oregon 's Mount Hood faced worsening weather conditions Monday night as forecasters predicted white-out conditions that could severely hinder search efforts . `` Starting tonight and through tomorrow , it 's going to be windy , and white-out conditions are going to be highly likely , '' said Scott Weishaar of the National Weather Service . Up to 2 feet of snow is expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday at the elevation where rescuers are searching for any signs of Anthony Vietti , 24 , and Katie Nolan , 29 , who have been missing since early Friday . A third hiker who was with them , 26-year-old Luke Gullberg , was found dead Saturday . A state deputy medical examiner said Monday that the cause was hypothermia , CNN affiliate KGW reported . Rescue crews took advantage of a brief break in the weather Monday afternoon to search previously unreachable higher elevations of the mountain . `` Unfortunately , we did not detect anything out of the ordinary as far as gear or people , '' searcher Monte Smith told reporters . `` With increasing snowfall coming down , it 's going to make everything that much harder . '' Weishaar said another series of storms Wednesday will dump another 10 inches to 18 inches of snow in the area , with temperatures in the low- to mid-20s . Snow was expected to start falling at 5 p.m. PT ( 8 p.m . ET ) . `` We only have today . We know we only have today , '' said Vietti 's aunt , Teri Preiss . Rescuers said they were putting no time limit on their efforts , and would do all they could despite the grim forecast . `` This remains a search and rescue mission , '' Clackamas County Detective Jim Strovink told an afternoon news conference . `` We have two experienced climbers who were well-equipped . We have an obligation to continue on and that 's what we 're going to do . We owe that to the family and we owe that to the climbers . '' Search crews will meet Tuesday morning to assess weather conditions and determine how to proceed , the Clackamas County Sheriff 's Office said after ending search efforts for the day Monday . Ground efforts have been severely hampered by avalanche conditions , which kept rescuers from accessing the parts of the mountain they wanted to reach early Monday morning . The avalanche threat also thwarted ground searches Sunday , authorities said . Searchers were also examining high-resolution photographs taken by aerial surveillance teams , hoping to find any sign of life . Capt . Chris Bernard of the U.S. Air Force 304th Rescue Squadron said infrared devices are being used as well . If the hikers have gone into a snow cave and have an air vent , the devices could pick up a heat signature , he said . When the three hikers set out at about 1 a.m. Friday ( 4 a.m . ET ) , they were planning a fairly easy , `` semi-technical '' hike in which they would come down the south side of the mountain , said Deputy Scott Meyers of the Clackamas County Sheriff 's Office . Preiss said pictures show `` it was a perfect climbing day , absolutely clear . '' The three hikers sent out a message in advance saying that conditions were `` absolutely perfect '' and that they would be back by late afternoon , she said . `` These kids loved , loved climbing . All three of them . They climbed together often . They climbed hard mountains together before . And they did it successfully and well . And they were careful climbers , '' Preiss said . Dr. Christopher Young with the state medical examiner 's office said Gullberg had suffered minor injuries -- cuts , scrapes and bruises -- apparently caused by a fall , KGW reported . Investigators believe the 26-year-old was able to move himself after falling an unknown distance . `` Accidents can happen -- and it happened here , '' Preiss said , describing Gullberg as a `` passionate young man '' who was very well-prepared for all his hikes . David Vahey , a family friend of the Viettis , said , `` We know that they , all three , loved hiking and they all three loved Jesus . And we just want to ask for prayer . '' The three hikers are from the Pacific Northwest . Vietti 's home is Longview , Washington ; Nolan 's is Portland , Oregon . Gullberg was from Des Moines , Washington . Gullberg 's MySpace page is filled with photos of him hiking in various places . A friend wrote Saturday on the page , `` I love you dude and miss you . '' His grandmother , Marjorie Gullberg , said she will miss his smile . `` He was just like my son . He did everything for me , '' CNN affiliate KPTV quoted her saying . Dennis Simons , a chaplain for the fire and police departments in the city of Sandy , Oregon , spent time with the families of all three on Sunday . `` They 're grieving and hoping . There are thousands of people around the world praying that Katie and Anthony will be found alive , '' he told reporters , holding back tears . The mountain rises 11,239 feet above sea level , with a vast base that stretches over 92 miles ( 148 km ) . It is the highest mountain in Oregon . Mount Hood is a dormant volcano with steam constantly spewing from holes , according to the Web site mthood.info . Gullberg 's death is the latest of many accidents on Mount Hood , KPTV reported . The worst occurred in May 1986 when nine people , including seven students from Oregon Episcopal School , died after they dug a snow cave during a sudden storm .
`` This remains a search and rescue mission , '' Clackamas County detective says . White-out conditions are expected , Weather Service says . Avalanche conditions hamper search on Oregon 's Mount Hood for two hikers . Third climber found dead over weekend .