The mercury plummeted in the early hours , with the icy minimum recorded at 5.42am.

Interestingly, at 5.30am the temperature was minus 1.7, but in 12 minutes it dropped to minus 2.8, before rising back to minus 1.5 at 6am.

It was the coldest July temperature since 1985, albeit for a very brief moment. It was also the lowest temperature recorded for nearly four years, with the previous low occurring in September 2006.

Information officer at the Bureau of Meteorology, John Cornall said the calm and clear night contributed to the freezing temperature.

"The high pressure system and cloudless night made for a very cold night in Ballarat,'' he said.

The bureau has forecast strong winds across the state today and the state emergency service has issued warnings for most regions. Winds are expected to reach gusts of 100 km/h. No frost is forecast,

and the minimum is expected to be five degrees.

HOW WE FROZE

9.00am ... 2.7

8.00am ... minus 1.2

7.00am... minus 1.1

5.45am... minus 2.8

5.00am ... minus 1.7

4.00am ... minus 0.8

3.00am ... minus 1.1

2.00am... 0.0

1.00am ... 1.6

12.00am 2.3

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