The maximum reached was 5.5 degrees, the lowest maximum recorded for Ballarat in 10 years.

The previous lowest was a maximum of 5 degrees recorded on May 27, 2000.

It wasn't until 4pm yesterday that the temperature reached 5 degrees before gradually increasing throughout the evening.

Overnight the temperature got down to 1 degree but the windchill temperature was as low as minus 4.8 degrees.

On Monday Ballarat recorded a high of 7.7 degrees after an overnight low of minus 2.1 degrees.

Even though yesterday's minimum didn't go as low as Monday's, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Peter Newham said it was still considered Ballarat's coldest day.

"I guess it's how you look at it," Mr Newham said.

"It sounds funny to say `lowest maximum' but that's what it was - the lowest maximum temperature in 10 years."

According to the BOM, the lowest maximum ever recorded in Ballarat was 3.2 degrees in May of 1977.

The lowest minimum ever recorded was minus 6 degrees in July 1982.

The rest of the state also experienced cold weather, with Melbourne residents shivering through their coldest day in two years.

Today we are expecting a minimum of 2 degrees and a maximum of 8 degrees with rain and a chance of sunshine.