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.

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.

The Met Office said the newly-named Storm Éowyn could bring powerful gusts to exposed coasts in Northern Ireland, northern England, northwestern Wales and western Scotland.

Britain is set to be battered by winds of up to 90mph from Storm Eowyn as the Met Office warned of a danger to life in parts of the country over the next few days. Very strong winds are forecast to strike the north of England, south of Scotland and North Wales.

A red weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland on Friday, as dangerous Storm Éowyn heads towards the UK. The red warning for wind, posing a danger to life, has been issued, while an amber warning is in place for parts of Scotland and the north of England,

Forecasters have warned Storm Eowyn could be 'exceptionally dangerous' as the Met Office issued an upgraded amber weather warning for a large section of the UK on Friday. Amber and yellow weather warnings are in place for Friday into Saturday,

Ireland and Scotland were on high alert for a violent storm set to hit them on Friday, with schools ordered to close and trains cancelled. Forecasters warned wind speeds could top 130 kilometres (80 miles) an hour when Storm Eowyn hits from the Atlantic,