DRIVERS are being warned to stay alert in wet and cold conditions as winter weather makes it way across Sunraysia and the rest of the state.

The Victorian government encouraged people to be cautious of their driving as cold weather and rain made its way across Victoria at the end of the weekend.

Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said poor weather conditions were known to increase the risk of crashes and there were simple choices that could be made to ensure all road users returned home safely.

"Winter conditions have already arrived and we can all help each other to get home safely at the end of the day by following simple road safety steps," he said.

"Rain, shorter days and dark clothing bring with them road safety risks, regardless of how you're travelling, cyclists and motorists should be vigilant, ensuring they are visible to others and plan ahead."

By 1.30pm on Monday, Mildura had received 20.4mm of rain, with heavy falls expected to continue for most of the day.

The Victorian government said heavy rain and fog decreased visibility and urged drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to make sure they could be seen by switching their lights on and only crossing roads at dedicated crossings or in well-lit areas.

Road users were also urged to leave more space for braking on wet roads.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicted that current rainfall and winter weather patterns would potentially deliver the coldest day of the year this week, with areas of Victoria expected to see snowfall on Tuesday.

It is predicted that Mildura would see rainfall again tomorrow, the expected maximum temperature not going above 13 degrees until Saturday, when it is predicted to hit a maximum of 16 degrees. Rain is also forecast for Friday.

Thursday is set to be the coldest day of the week with a minimum temperature of 2 degrees.

The government warned drivers heading towards the south of the state to beware of "black ice" and advised that they should avoid sudden braking when on such surfaces and instead keep the steering wheel as straight as possible and slow down gently by lifting their foot from the accelerator.

In southern and alpine Victoria, black ice generally forms around dawn and dusk or on sections of the road that haven't been exposed to direct sunlight after heavy dew or rain.

Ice-detection stations, which activate warnings to drivers if black ice is present, are installed on the Calder Freeway.