THE winter chill has enveloped the north with mountainous areas receiving their first frost of the season.
As the temperatures plummeted well below double digits in coastal parts, up at Eungella residents were experiencing sub zero conditions.
Cloudbreak Lowlines and Eungella Beef owner Mandy Tennent said the temperature dipped to -4C early on Thursday at their Crediton property, bringing with it the first frosts this winter.
But with their property about 800m above sea level, Mrs Tennent said the conditions were not unusual at this time of year.
"It was definitely the coldest morning so far this year, but we got down to -7C two years ago on the creek flats, so it is not unusual," Mrs Tennent said.
The chill didn't seem to bother their 120 strong herd of lowline cattle though, with Mrs Tennent saying they were happy to remain in the lower areas of the property even when the sun started to emerge up the hill.
"They're fine, they have frost all over them but they are happy just mooching around doing their thing. They are very adaptable."
The Bureau of Meterology's Kimba Wong said some areas in the north on Thursday experienced their coldest morning since last winter.
Ms Wong said it was quite cool in the central highlands, with Clermont dropping to 0.5C, with a fair bit of frost around in elevated areas.
Proserpine dropped to 4.8C, the coolest morning since last September and Moranbah dropped to 2.1C, the coldest since last July.
On the coast Mackay had a minimum of 6.4C, while Woolshed, south of Townsville dropped to 8.3C and Ayr 9.9C.
Out west, Mount Isa dropped to 4C and Camooweal had a minimum of 2.7C.
Ms Wong said the cold snap had affected much of the state but conditions were set to ease, particularly on the coast approaching the weekend.
"We've had a big ridge of high pressure extend right across the state with cold dry air all the way to the east coast," Ms Wong said.
"We will see a gradual easing in minimum temperatures and it will start to warm up the next few mornings particularly along the coast.
"It will take a bit longer for the moisture to push inland so it will remain reasonably cold the next few mornings and gradually warm up at the start of next week."
Ms Wong said while there would be frost around in parts, it would remain reasonably dry in the north over the next few days, with light coastal showers in exposed areas of the Whitsunday and Cassowary coasts and Daintree from Saturday.
Mrs Tennent said their property, 90km west of Mackay, had enjoyed a wonderful winter so far, with gentle soaking rain working wonders for their pasture.
"It has been a marvellous winter so far, up until winter solstice last Sunday we had 65mm, just gentle soaking rain over two weeks.
"The grass growth has been incredible, the kikuyu and clover love it."