SOUTHERN Downs residents shivered through their coldest morning in three years as temperatures dropped to near record lows across the region yesterday.

The Rose City was the second-coldest place in Queensland, with the mercury plunging to a chilling -5.4 degrees - just 1.2 degrees off the record low of -6.6 degrees recorded on June 26, 1971.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Amber Young told the Daily News the last time Warwick recorded a low of -5.4 degrees was in 2011.

"The last time a June day got that cold was in 2004," she said.

"People in certain areas may have recorded even lower temperatures than the official recordings."

Stanthorpe was the coldest place in the state yesterday, with temperatures falling to -7 degrees.

Car windscreens and household water pipes were frozen, as thick frost blanketed the region well beyond sunrise.

Ms Young said yesterday morning's temperatures were well below average.

"The temperature was 10 degrees below the June average," she said.

"This is quite a considerable variation from average."

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting conditions to return to average on the weekend, as cloudier and windier weather returns to the region.

"Yesterday's cold was due to a high pressure system directly over us, bringing clear skies and little or no wind," Ms Young said.

"It will be windy on Sunday and Monday morning, bringing temperatures back up to average."

Those hoping for a lengthier reprieve from the cold are out of luck, with freezing temperatures again forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

A low of -1 degrees is forecast for Warwick on Tuesday, while Stanthorpe is predicted to reach -3.