Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “The strongest gusts are likely to be felt across parts of Northern Ireland, northern England, north-western Wales and western Scotland, where exposed sites could get gusts in excess of 80mph, which has the potential to cause impacts for those in these areas.

The Met Office yellow alert came into force at midnight and runs until 11.59pm tonight. Wind gusts could be up to 54mph in the early hours accompanied by heavy rain and the alert warns of a 'danger to life' from flying debris.

The Met Office has warned Storm Eowyn could see winds of up to 90mph hammer parts of the UK, with 'widespread disruption and significant impacts expected'

Storm Éowyn is forecast to make landfall in Ireland late on Thursday before moving on to the rest of the UK on Friday according to Met Office models. The storm will bring gusts of 80mph to coastal areas and 60mph inland with potential for a danger to life caused by flying debris.

GMT on Friday. It is the first time that a red warning has been issued for Northern Ireland since the Met Office moved to impact-based warnings in 2011. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption,

Dangerous conditions are expected with the top level red warning for wind issued for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland across Friday morning. The Met Office has issued weather warnings across the UK,