Australia Weather News

The crunch of frost underfoot is matching the bone-dry cold conditions being felt across much of inland Queensland this week.

In southern Queensland, Roma shivered through an icy -3.2 degrees Celsius early this morning, while Charleville, Miles, Dalby, Toowoomba and Kingaroy all recorded lows in the negatives.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Livio Regano said a deep low weather system had parked off the southern New South Wales coast, drawing dry south-westerly winds across much of the Sunshine State.

Mr Regano said even when the system did move on, a high would come in behind it, reinforcing winds and keeping temperatures 4–8C below average for the rest of the week.

"If the wind drops in the days ahead, we're going to get widespread frost right across southern and the central interior of Queensland," he said.

Mr Regano said frost was possible north almost to the Atherton Tablelands, through Channel Country and across the western border.

"We're forecasting [inland] temperatures down to about zero in the next few days" he said.

Not even the south-east has been able to escape the cold change.

Brisbane is expecting tops of 19C this week, with overnight lows dipping into the single digits.

North staying warm

The colder conditions are not expected to reach northern parts of the state, with Townsville and Cairns expecting top temperatures in the mid to high 20s for the rest of the week.

However, with winds blowing in from the coast, Mr Regano said possible showers could ruin the fun for people trying to get some sun.

"The midwinter average [low] for Cairns is about 16, so we're not even there and probably won't get below it," he said.

"So, with the far north, it will probably just be average. Everywhere else will be below."