Bad weather is hampering the search for a Victorian man reported missing in freezing conditions in Tasmania's rugged wilderness, where police have airlifted out three others.

Key points: Mr Bowman was carrying an emergency radio beacon, which has not been activated

Mr Bowman was carrying an emergency radio beacon, which has not been activated His next of kin raised the alarm after he failed to return from his walk on Saturday

His next of kin raised the alarm after he failed to return from his walk on Saturday Police have been involved in several other rescues because of deteriorating conditions

According to visitor logs, Michael Bowman, 57, was due to finish his walk and report to the Lake St Clair visitor centre on Friday.

His next of kin notified police when he did not make contact.

Police say Mr Bowman is an experienced bushwalker. ( Supplied: Tasmania Police )

The area, popular with walkers, is under heavy snow and has a predicted overnight temperature of 2 degrees Celsius.

Police and SES ground crews have spent the day searching the remote area but deteriorating weather forced the rescue helicopter to turn back late this morning.

It will be deployed again when the weather improves.

Acting Inspector Phil Curtis said that the dangerous weather conditions were hampering the search.

"Police would like to thank those people who have volunteered to join the search, however the conditions are not suitable for unskilled volunteers," Acting Inspector Curtis said.

"Obviously we've got some concerns for his welfare but we do know he's an experienced walker and he's well prepared."

"As you can imagine, the conditions are harsh and our people are having to wade through snow, ice."



Tasmania Police said Mr Bowman, described as "a bushwalker with 30 years of experience", was believed to be carrying an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), which officers said had not been activated.

Mr Bowman, from Mt Waverley in Victoria, had planned to walk the Mt Cuvier area.

"Obviously we're not ruling [out] anything at this particular time as to the circumstances as to why Michael might not have walked out," Acting Inspector Curtis said said.

Members of a police search and rescue team walk through thick snow in the search for Mr Bowman. ( Supplied: Tasmania Police )

"We're not making an assessment of the worst case scenario just based on the EPIRB hasn't been activated."

Police described Mr Bowman as being "approximately 180 centimetres tall, of medium build, carrying a grey pack and wearing a red/orange jacket and dark coloured pants. He is thought to be using a yellow/mustard coloured tent".

Bushwalking Tasmania's Andrew Davey described the terrain as "difficult".

"With snow added on top it … makes the going all but impenetrable, takes an almighty effort to get going because if there's a lot of snow you're wading through a combination of snow and unseen scrub tangling your feet all the time," he said.

A dual-language sign warns that weather conditions are changeable in the Lake St Clair National Park. ( ABC News: Edith Bevin )

Anyone who may have seen a man fitting Mr Bowman's description in the Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park area is asked to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444.

Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.



Rescue operations in two other areas

While searching for Mr Bowman, police were alerted to another walker in the area who was potentially suffering from hypothermia and had activated his EPIRB in the Lake Petrach area.

The man, from Brisbane and aged in his mid-40s, was flown to Derwent Bridge.

Tasmanian Police were also involved in two other search and rescue operations.

Two bushwalkers, one from New South Wales and one from Tasmania, were airlifted from the Walls of Jerusalem National Park near Junction Lake this morning after activating their EPIRB yesterday.

The search and rescue helicopter has been involved in two other operations in national parks. ( Supplied: Tasmania Police )

They alerted rescue authorities after not being able to walk in the poor weather conditions.

In a separate incident, a father and his 15-year-old daughter from Western Australia are spending the night camping out after failing to reach Pelion Hut in the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

On Sunday, the pair reported to family members that they were in blizzard conditions and finding it difficult to complete their walk.

Late today, police were searching for an overdue walker at nearby Dove Lake.

About 30 other walkers are registered in the area, including a group of 10 from a Hobart school but police said there were no concerns for them at this stage.

Walkers urged to heed warnings

Police have asked walkers to pay attention to weather warnings.

"This is a timely reminder to visitors to our national parks to carefully consider weather conditions during the intended walk to ensure they have sufficient food and rations for possible delays due to weather and suitable equipment and clothing," Inspector Darren Hopkins said.

The Parks and Wildlife Service has also cautioned walkers that tracks are "subject to severe weather conditions all year round, weather may change quickly, tracks are difficult to navigate when covered in snow and may be impassable".