As Ireland braces itself to feel the full force of Storm Éowyn, Met Éireann has warned that the latest weather front could bring with it a possible "danger to life".

Met Eireann has put the entire country under a a red weather warning with the storm bring a potential 'danger to life'

Storm Éowyn is barrelling towards the west coast set to bring one of the worst wind storms in decades to Ireland within hours. Met Éireann is urging extreme caution as the severe Status Red storm system threatens to deliver a clattering of 'violent Storm force winds' and gusts above 130km/h.

Ireland is braced for Storm Eowyn bringing 'danger to life' conditions, with Status Red warnings now issued for 22 counties. It comes as an update has been issued on school closures.

FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint Donegal will be under a severe RED weather warning this Friday during Storm Éowyn, Met Eireann has confirmed.

It has been confirmed that schools and creches will close for the duration of the Status Red warning in the counties that are affected - public transport is set not to operate either

Met Eireann forecasters have updated the urgent weather warnings for the Southwest to a rare Status Red alert for wind as "destructive gusts" batter the country. Storm Éowyn is predicted to bring gale-force winds and severely damaging gusts in excess of 130km/h.

Met Éireann has issued red wind and rain warnings for all but four counties, with the storm set to hit the country in the early hours of Friday.

The Met Office has extended a series of yellow weather alerts between today and Saturday, while four Irish counties face red status wind warnings. A series of yellow fog alerts have been issued across the UK today,

The national forecaster said this morning that the storm poses a potential 'danger to life' in the Status Red counties