After a pleasant start to the day a polar blast has swept through the city and the temperature has plummeted.

After reaching 13.4 degrees at 10.10am, the mercury dropped suddenly as the icy change arrived ahead of a bitterly cold day.

In less than one hour the temperature fell by almost five degrees to sit at 8.7 degrees at 11am.

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Rain is forecast to fall in Ballarat for the rest of the day, with the temperature not expected to get back above nine degrees.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a road weather warning for dangerous driving conditions due to expected heavy rain across Victoria today.

Bad weather should prompt drivers to slow down and use extreme care.

Motorists are advised that conditions can change quickly, to be vigilant at all times and to avoid travelling during storms if possible.

As for the rest of the week, we can expect maximum temperatures between 13 and 15 degrees.

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