TEMPERATURES will tonight plunge to the coldest levels so far this year with farmers bracing for frosts and shoppers stocking up on jumpers and blankets.

Forecasters say tomorrow morning will have the coldest minimum temperatures, with the mercury dropping as low as 3C, with widespread frost expected on the Tableland and Mareeba.

The prediction has prompted Tableland potato farmers in areas not traditionally prone to frost to ramp up spraying of anti-freeze in a bid to stave off losses.

A cold snap last year destroyed millions of dollars worth of potatoes and maize crops and caused significant yield
impacts on surviving crops.

Bureau forecaster Michelle Hollister said the temperature would drop as low as 11C in Cairns tomorrow – 6C below average – with a chilly 12C expected this morning.

"An extra layer at night will be good," Cairns-based Ms Hollister said.

"We haven’t seen temperatures (this low) thus far this winter.

"So far we’ve had an interesting winter with the cloud cover," Ms Hollister said.

The long-term average minimum for Cairns in July is 17C. On Sunday, temperatures dropped to 12C.

Cairns shop owners yesterday said locals had felt the pinch of colder temperatures and had rushed to buy jackets. Visitors who packed for the tropics were also stocking up on long-sleeve shirts, jackets and beanies.

Amy Dickinson from Rip Curl surfwear said customers were searching for something warm to wear.

"The locals are coming in for the jackets," Ms Dickinson said.

Growcom potato chairman David Nix said in the panic to protect crops anti-freeze had sold out in the region.

"Half the Tableland crop is at risk," he said.

"There would be about 2000ha of spuds still in the ground and farmers are just not taking the risk."

July has also been wetter than usual with 52mm of rain, compared with the 30mm average.

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