BEND, Ore. (KATU) — The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday identified the Bend couple killed in an avalanche earlier this week.

Officials say Terance Olaf Skjersaa, 57, and Susan Renee Skjersaa, 52, were found deceased on February 17.

The couple was reported overdue that evening, prompting friends to begin a search.

READ MORE | 2 dead in avalanche near snowmobile trail northeast of Mount Bachelor

Shortly before midnight, the friends discovered the skiers buried under the avalanche. Authorities suspect the avalanche occurred several hours before the victims were found.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team dispatched two members to the scene overnight. They were joined by additional members and a deputy the following morning to conduct the investigation and recovery.

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry," Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said in a news release. "Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live. On behalf of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and our entire community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to their family and loved ones during this difficult time."

The avalanche was reported near Snowmobile Trail 8, the Central Oregon Avalanche Center said on social media.

According to a preliminary report from the center, the two people were backcountry skiing on Monday when they were buried by a "D2, Storm Slab avalanche," which occurred at an elevation of 6,700 feet on a south-facing slope. The height of the avalanche averaged almost 1.5 feet and ran 320 vertical feet into a stand of trees.

The center said it's unknown what triggered the avalanche, but "it is likely that the riders triggered the avalanche themselves."

"We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved," Lauren Altemari, development director for the center, said in an email to KATU. "As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community."

The Sheriff's Office warned that avalanche danger in the Central Cascades area is currently moderate to considerable.

They urged the public to exercise extreme caution when recreating in these areas and to check coavalanche.org for more information, including forecasts and observations.