THE "monster low" set to blast southern Australia with icy weather, rain and strong winds is expected to move over the Queensland border late on Tuesday.

The good news for the Sunshine State is by the time it moves up the coast it will have lost much of its punch, Weatherzone meteorologist Tristan Meyers said.

"It will weaken as it moves north," he said.

"South Australia, the Victorian Alps and Tasmania are getting, and will get, thrashed by it but by the time it hits Queensland it will weaken into the form of a cool south-westerly change."

Even so, south east Queensland is in for a cold, cloudy and windy week.

The low pressure system is expected to cross the border on Tuesday afternoon, pushing out the warm, sunny weather, but it could be the evening before it reaches the coast, and most of the rain it brings is expected to fall over the Darling Downs.

"Overnight Tuesday night into Wednesday we're going to see those temperatures dip," Mr Meyers said.

"Really Wednesday morning and evening is when we're going to feel a lot of the chill in the air, 2C cooler than the temperatures suggest.

"The wind will start to shift and get even stronger across Wednesday."

Mr Meyers said winds would shift onshore from about Thursday, bringing some occasional showers in coastal areas.

"Cloud will start streaming over from Wednesday or so," he said.

THE FORECAST FOR THE SUNSHINE COAST

TUESDAY

Partly cloudy, min 14C, max 25C

WEDNESDAY

Partly cloudy, min 14C, max 21C

THURSDAY

Shower or two, min 11C, max 19C

FRIDAY

Shower or two, min 12C, max 19C