Police, SES searching Stirling Range National Park in freezing conditions for missing man Wayne Michael Parker

An extensive search is continuing in the Stirling Range National Park in near-freezing conditions for missing man Wayne Michael Parker, who has not been seen since Saturday in the Great Southern.

A land and air search began late on Monday after members of the public found Mr Parker’s vehicle in the carpark of Mt Magog, a walking trail in the popular hiking location.

Those involved in the search have had to brave wet and freezing cold conditions, with temperatures falling below 10 degrees on Tuesday.

The 61-year-old man was last seen in Mt Barker and police issued a release on Sunday seeking information into his whereabouts.

At the time police said his disappearance was out of character and they held serious concerns for his welfare.

The search was suspended at nightfall on Monday and recommenced on Tuesday but the efforts of police, State Emergency Service volunteers and police drones have yet to locate any sign of Mr Parker.

Albany officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Hugh Letessier said the search will be suspended again on Tuesday night and will resume at first light on Wednesday.

“With the help of members of the public the gentleman’s car was found in a carpark at Mt Magog,” Sen Sgt Letessier said.

“We are concentrating our land search action around that location.

“The search was suspended overnight and has been going all day (Tuesday) but we’ve had no success in locating him.

“We will suspend our search actions when it becomes dark but we’re confident we are searching in the right location.”

Sen Sgt Lestessier said the cold and wet conditions had made searching difficult.

“Weather is a consideration for all searches,” he said.

“It has been cold and rained a fair bit (on Tuesday).

“Conditions make it harder to search certain areas of the national park but it doesn’t prevent us from making every effort to locate the missing person.”

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Caroline Crow said the Stirling Range National Park had a maximum temperature of about seven degrees on Tuesday, and there was rain expected overnight with a chance of hail and risk of a thunderstorm.

“(It’s been) pretty cold through that area all day today,” Ms Crow said.

“...There’s a gradual easing trend, but it’s still going to be windy still, and it’s not really going to be until maybe later on Wednesday, coming into Thursday where you really see conditions improve.

“But today, coming into tomorrow still, there’ll be showers pushing up potentially into that area there.”

Mr Parker is described as fair-skinned, 185-190cm tall, of large build with broad shoulders, and has short grey hair with an unshaven appearance.

He was driving a grey Nissan Navara with the registration O62 CN and that car was found on Monday inside the national park.