Met Eireann has extended its Status Red weather warning to the entire country ahead of what is expected to be one of the most severe storms in living memory. Storm Eowyn is currently brewing in the Atlantic and is due to make landfall in Ireland on Thursday night.

Storm Éowyn is set to deliver miserable conditions for millions of Brits from tomorrow with wind gusts expected to surpass 90mph in some places while dumping snow in other regions

The warnings come into effect at slightly different times but all schools will shut across the country on Friday for the duration of the red alerts

Most of the country will be under a Status Red wind warning on Friday as Storm Eowyn is predicted to bring "powerful and destructive winds" of up to 193kmh over the coming days

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".

A rare, red warning has also been issued by Ireland's weather service ahead of the arrival of Storm Eowyn, warning of "severe, damaging and destructive gusts".

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.

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

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,