The icy blast crossing Victoria has forced temperatures southward and brought predictions of heavy snowfalls to the ski fields.

Melbourne felt like 2.8 degrees at 5.30am, when the actual temperature was 5.6.

The apparent low of 2.1 was recorded at 4am, when temperature dropped to an overnight low of 5.2 degrees.

That rose to 6.4 by 6am, with a "feels like" reading of 3.3 degrees.

Across the state, temperatures plummeted to -7.1 and -7.4 in Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, where snow fell.

At Bendigo, the low was 2.2 at 6.30am and at Ballarat, it reached -1 at 6.11am.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan said it was not unusual to get a sudden cold outbreak to mark the start of winter.

Clearer skies could make some outer suburbs colder tomorrow, while regional areas would see frosts for much of the week, he said.

The city is expected to reach a maximum of just 13 degrees each day until Thursday, with snow likely to fall on Monday over ranges above 600 metres.

At Falls Creek, 20 centimetres of snow has fallen overnight, but the icy blast has ironically forced the cancellation of the annual ice plunge.

Winter is here and BOY HAS IT DELIVERED! Up to 20cm has fallen overnight and great conditions for snowmaking this week....Posted by Falls Creek Resort on Sunday, May 31, 2015

Falls Creek Resort marketing and communications manager Jo Prothero said sub-zero temperatures and road conditions had prompted organisers to cancel the event.

Eight or 10 brave souls would still do the plunge under medical supervision, but the public event would instead become a duck hunt in Slalom Plaza.

Miss Prothero said Falls Creek had woken to a beautiful morning, with snow covering all the roads and trees.

"We're definitely pleased with the start of winter," she said.

Mount Buller woke to eight centimetres of snow. Media manager Kate Monahan said the resort would blast the snowguns all week to give Mother Nature a hand.

"With any luck we'll be skiing on the weekend," she said.

Melbourne's days should warm slightly by the end of the week, with a top of 15 degrees forecast for Friday and 16 degrees for Saturday.

With Benjamin Millar