Queensland shivers through cold snap, up to 10 degrees below average

Most of southern and central Queensland woke to its coldest morning of the year so far today, dipping below zero in several rural towns.

The cold snap is bringing temperatures almost 10 degrees below average for this time of year in parts of the state, according to Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Jonathan How.

The mercury hit just 4.8C at Coolangatta Airport this morning and 5.1C on the Sunshine Coast, while Brisbane got down to 10.7C.

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Roma was the coldest place in the state at -3.6C. It was also freezing at Charleville which dipped to -2C and Wellcamp, Miles and Oakey all got to -1C.

"We have seen cold air stretching all the way from inland areas and all the way to the coast," How said.

He said that cold air mass will now start to move north.

"We can expect to see more, very widespread frost, all the way from the New South Wales border up towards even places like Longreach tonight," How said.

"Gradually we'll see this cold moisture extend further north into, Thursday, Friday, Saturday."

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By the weekend, Mackay and even Burke, on the tropical gulf coast, will see single-digit minimums.

"For areas sort of further north towards Richmond, Longreach, Winton, these mornings are up to eight degrees, even up to 10 degrees, below average for this time of year."

On the bright side, he said, the cold mornings also bring clear, sunny days.

Brisbane and most of southern Queensland is expected to be dry for the next seven days, with the only forecast rain expected to be showers around the state's tropical north.

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