Two men have drowned in fierce swell at a Melbourne beach as a severe weather system wreaks havoc across Australia's southern states.

Emergency services were called Frankston Beach this afternoon following reports two men were in trouble in the water.

Police Air Wing conducted a search of the water, where the pair were found unresponsive just after 5pm. 

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The men, who are yet to be formally identified, were winched back to shore but could not be revived. 

Police will prepare reports for the coroner.

Wind gusts peaked at 120km/h in parts of Victoria this afternoon as a severe low pressure system brought down trees and cut power to thousands across the state.

The weather system is expected to continue to sweep across Victoria towards NSW overnight, with conditions expected to stabilise tomorrow.

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Dozens of guests and staff were evacuated from the Symonds St building.

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Australians using certain Samsung phones have been told to urgently update or replace their devices because they may not be able to make triple zero calls.

Both Telstra and Optus have issued separate statements this afternoon, warning that dozens of older Samsung models are not properly connecting to the Vodafone network in order to contact emergency services.

A Vodafone spokesperson said its network was not to blame for the issue and instead the fault was due to a "limitation in how certain devices were originally configured to search for emergency connectivity". Samsung said it was working on the issue.

See the full list of devices that need to be replaced in the table below.

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If a customer is unable to get phone service with their telco, the device is meant to automatically connect to one of the other networks in order to be able to make triple-zero calls.

However, Telstra and Optus both said there is an issue where the impacted devices aren't properly connecting to Vodafone when their networks are unavailable, leaving those customers unable to make an emergency call in those situations.

"We immediately notified Samsung and the other network operators when we discovered the issue," Telstra head of networks and technology Shailin Sehgal said.

"Given the nature of the issue, we're legally obligated to inform customers impacted and block devices from our network that are not fixed.

See the full list of devices that need a software update in the table below.

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"To be clear, this issue does not relate to the Telstra network, and it does not impact your ability to call triple zero when you're using the Telstra network or the Optus network.

"It also does not impact your ability to use voice over Wi-Fi to place a triple-zero call when no other mobile network is available."

Optus also said the issue did not relate to its network.

Telstra said 71 Samsung models, most of them from the popular Galaxy range, are affected by the issue.

While some of the impacted models came out a decade ago, others were released in the 2020s.

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Of the 71 models, 11 need to be replaced, while Telstra said the remaining 60 require an update to fix the issue.

Telstra and Optus are reaching out to impacted customers by email and SMS to let them know what to do.

Due to legal requirements, the impacted devices will be blocked from accessing any local mobile network from 28 days after the notifications are issued.

More information on the issue can be found on both Telstra's and Optus' websites.

In a statement, Samsung said it is working on the issue with the telcos.

"Samsung and its carrier partners are working together to ensure all devices operate reliably in every emergency situation," a spokesperson said.

"If your device is impacted, your carrier will notify you to provide specific instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your carrier or reach out to Samsung on 1300 362 603."

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Vodafone, meanwhile, said it had also "identified a small number of devices that either need a software update or need to be replaced to ensure emergency call compatibility".

It also said it would block incompatible devices that aren't replaced or updated as needed.

"We understand that some customers may need extra support, and we are committed to helping them through this process, including offering $0 and subsidised handsets where needed," a spokesperson said.

"Our teams are available in-store and via customer care to assist with updates and upgrades."

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He was hit by a branch that had been blown off a tree besides a walking track.

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It was a day of extreme weather across multiple cities in Australia after ferocious winds lashed most of Victoria and the coast of South Australia, while sweltering temperatures threatened to break records in Sydney.

Cyclonic winds reaching up to 110km/h were recorded in parts of Victoria, bringing down hundreds of trees, triggering a mass power outage and even cancelling legacy race event the Geelong Cup.

The windy chaos only became worse in the afternoon as a severe weather warning by the Bureau of Meterology (BoM) urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

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READ MORE: City braced for its hottest October day on record

A low pressure system which developed off the southern coast of SA is now moving east and brought with it damaging wind gusts this afternoon.

The windy conditions are expected to ease by tomorrow morning, the BoM said.

Mass power outages as trees fall in Melbourne

Power outages have surged across the city as the wild winds blow a hefty afternoon gale.

Over 17,000 people are without power across Melbourne as of 5pm.

Victoria's State Emergency Service (SES) earlier warned that gale-force winds could down power poles and trigger mass outages.

The SES said it has fielded over 500 calls for assistance across the state today.

There have been 401 trees which have fallen and 109 reports of damage in the city.

The busiest area for incidents has been north-west Melbourne, the SES said.

The winds also caused some trouble on the roads in Melbourne.

An unlucky truck driver on Western Ring Road in Derrimut in the city's west had a traffic light pole topple onto his vehicle earlier today, causing traffic mayhem in the area.

Geelong Cup cancelled

Officials decided to postpone the Geelong Cup after wild winds caused punters to evacuate.

Following advice from emergency services, the remainder of today's meeting was cancelled.

The strong winds made it dangerous for racegoers on the field to be around the marquees.

According to the BoM, wind gusts reached around 80km/h about 3pm in Geelong.

The rest of the Geelong Cup event could take place tomorrow after the weather conditions ease.

Conditions may ease tomorrow

The wild weather is set to ease tomorrow, with only moderate winds forecast for south-east Victoria.

A frontal system connected to a deep low in the Bass Strait will continue tracking east over NSW into the Tasman Sea, the BoM said.

This will result in a "vigorous westerly flow" across the south-east into this evening and early tomorrow morning.

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Destructive weather also batters SA

Similar wet and windy conditions also faced residents in South Australia today.

The BoM issued severe weather warnings for damaging and locally destructive winds, marine wind warnings, and a sheep graziers warning across the state.

The most destructive winds were expected in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Upper South East, Lower South East and parts of the Mid North and Murraylands districts.

There was also a risk of locally destructive gusts along the coast south-east of Robe.

Adelaide was forecast to be drenched with around 30mm of rain today.

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https://x.com/BOM_SA/status/1980720552626020618

Bushfire warning in NSW as millions face catastrophic heat

Multiple fire bans are in place in NSW, including for Sydney, as the state braces for more soaring temperatures after its hottest October day on record.

The Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled a heatwave warning for NSW but Sydney reached a top of 39 degrees today.

And fire bans have been imposed on the greater metro region, as well as other areas including the Illawarra and Hunter.

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‘On Monday, we will see the potential for some very strong winds and heavy rain.’

Sydney residents have sweated through the hottest October day on record, with the temperature surging in minutes this afternoon after a mild morning.

Temperatures reached 39.5 degrees at Penrith in the city's west and 39.8 degrees at Bankstown in the city's south-west, which was the hottest day on record for both communities.

Firefighters have been put on alert as the combination of strong winds and soaring heat pose severe fire dangers to parts of NSW.

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A total fire ban is in place for parts of the state including the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Upper Central West Plains, Greater Hunter and the Greater Sydney regions.

However several teenage boys did not heed the warning from authorities.

This morning a group lit a fire in bushland next to Lake Parramatta where people were swimming.

The teenagers were seen throwing pieces of paper into the flames however the fire did not spread.

The teenage boys were spoken to by police but they were not fined.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin said high temperatures combined with strong winds could lead to high fire danger in many parts of the state, while others could be at risk of extreme fire danger conditions.

"Homes in and around grassed areas, and bush areas of NSW, need to make sure they're prepared, they understand the conditions today and they take steps to protect themselves."

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Fire bans have been imposed on the greater metro region, as well as other areas including the Illawarra and Hunter.

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Steve Vaughan said residents should take care, particularly more vulnerable members of the community, during the heatwave.

"Those who are over 65, pregnant women, babies, young children and those with pre-existing medical conditions," Vaughan said.

"They should be aware of the forecasted temperatures and take appropriate action to stay safe."

A thunderstorm is expected to roll over Sydney this evening, bringing some reprieve to residents with cooler temperatures.

Records tumble in NSW and Queensland

Both NSW and Queensland broke their October temperature record by close to a degree yesterday as temperatures soared well beyond 40 degrees Celsius.

Birdsville in the deep Queensland outback near the border with South Australia hit 46.1 degrees, an entire degree more than the previous record set in 1995.

It's also the eighth-hottest October temperature ever recorded in Australia, and the only figure in the top 10 from outside of Western Australia.

In NSW, Bourke hit 44.8 degrees, almost a full degree more than the 1919 mark of 43.9 set in the same place.

Weatherzone said there were several local monthly heat records across the eastern states, including Queensland's Thargomindah hitting 45.1, obliterating its previous October maximum by a full two degrees, and Tibooburra in NSW climbing to 42.8 degrees, 0.2 degrees hotter than the previous mark.

Records aren't officially declared until 9am the following day but there was no chance of the daily maximums being exceeded overnight. 

"Take action now to protect your life and property," the Rural Fire Service warned yesterday.

"These are dangerous fire conditions. Check your bushfire plan and ensure that your property is fire-ready.

"If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts."

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines said there was a "bubble" of heat through the eastern interior of the country, covering western Queensland, north-western NSW and northern South Australia.

"The interior is seeing these incredibly hot temperatures, including a top of 31 degrees as the minimum for Thargominhad in the far south-west of Queensland," he said yesterday afternoon.

"Then after a warm morning, there's going to be a warm day."

Local temperature records had already tumbled on Monday across South Australia, NSW and Queensland. 

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Opposition leader Sussan Ley has backtracked on her call for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sack Kevin Rudd as Ambassador to the United States after his tense exchange with Donald Trump.

Rudd was involved in an awkward moment during Albanese's landmark meeting with Trump at the White House yesterday, where Trump told the former prime minister, "I don't like you, and I probably never will," in response to a question about criticism from years ago.

Despite the incident being laughed off by Albanese, and reports that Rudd had offered an off-camera apology to Trump – which was accepted – Ley still called for the prime minister to take action.

Ley said yesterday Albanese had to, "back him or sack him", calling Rudd's appointment a "captain's pick".

However, in a press conference in Sydney today, Ley appeared to distance herself from her previous stance.

"Kevin Rudd is the prime minister's choice for ambassador, it's a big job," Ley said.

Ley's backtrack follows comments from Liberal senator Jane Hume, who called Ley's remarks towards Rudd "churlish" in an interview on Sky News.

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Ley added: "I welcome all the comments from my talented backbench and I know, like me, that they are focused on all the bread and butter issues that matter to us.

"What was clear yesterday was that the prime minister has a lot of catching up to do with respect to the relationship with the US and the next steps.

"I welcomed, yesterday, that important first moves and meetings have happened."

Albanese, who is now returning from his trip to Washington, signed an $8.5 billion critical minerals deal with the United States, as well as receiving assurances the Trump administration will back the AUKUS pact.

He confirmed there were no hard feelings between the ambassador and the president, and praised Rudd's work in the role during a difficult time.

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"(Trump) said, 'he looks like a good guy, is he a nice guy?', I said 'he is a nice guy' … and he said, 'oh well, all is forgiven'," Albanese said.

"Ambassadors don't meet leaders. I don't meet ambassadors and neither does President Trump.

"But Kevin Rudd has met every single member of Congress, I think. And he is well-liked on the Hill and he gets things done."

Albanese also insisted Trump's rebuke was not to be taken too seriously.

"[It was] pretty light-hearted," Albanese added.

"It says something about how important we place our relationship with the US that we appointed a former prime minister (as ambassador)."

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