It is the first day of winter, and while autumn has brought wind, rainfall, and cool temperatures to southern Queensland, one of the regulars has been missing — frost!

The wet conditions, combined with blankets of clouds, mean the frost season will start late and finish early this year.

For growers on the state's Southern Downs, crops have stayed on much longer than normal seasons.

Jessica Andreatta, who grows tomatoes and capsicum on the Granite Belt, said it was unusual to be picking at this time of year.

"For us, that first week of May is about the extent of [picking], not the first week of June," she said.

"The hubby and I came back onto the farm about 13 years ago and in that time, we haven't picked this late.

"You'd really think the tomatoes would be just horrible at this time of the year with the cold and the wet but because conditions have been so mild, the tomatoes have held up well.

The low-pressure system that created this weather eased the winds, but brought lower temperatures.

The weather bureau's Helen Reid said frost may fall later this week.

"Throughout the region we are going to have single digit minimum temperatures … heading to frosty temperatures come Thursday morning," she said.

Tourist season

Holiday-goers are cramming the winter woollies into their suitcases, with the Granite Belt a popular destination for those looking for a cool change.

Owner of the Granite Belt Christmas Tree Farm Katrina Fraser said the streets came alive during winter.

"In Queensland, it's not very often that you get to wear the beanies, gloves and jackets," she said.

"The day trippers come out in loads and it's great for the local businesses because everyone is stopping in and spreading the love."

Dusting of snow a possibility 

The chance of snowfall in the sunshine state captures travellers from far and wide each year, with the last dusting falling in 2019.

Ms Fraser said this could be the year it happens again.

"I think if it's going to be, it'll be this year.

"We're sitting around six or seven degrees at the moment. We usually don't get these temperatures until late June, early July."

Climate researcher Roger Stone said there was always a possibility of snow.

"There's always just a slight chance down there on the Granite Belt, depends on what the synoptic patterns are doing," he said.

"Some of the fronts coming through could do that, but then it's usually just a light dusting of snow."

Protracted La Niña

While the idea of snow is pleasant, more rain is on the cards for winter in southern Queensland, with an extended La Niña set to stay till next year.

Mr Stone said that was not uncommon.

"They've [protracted La Niñas] occurred before and it's probably going into its third year, they tend to phase lock," he said.

"Once you get to about the end of May, where we are now, they tend to then dig in for another year out there in the Central Pacific Ocean.

"In my opinion, you could easily see this pattern go through to sometime during the autumn of 2023."