Thousands of schools have been closed on Friday as Storm Eowyn batters the country with winds of over 100mph. The Met Office has issed two rare red weather warnings in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as Storm Eowyn is likely to damage buildings,

Friday’s red weather warning is the first in the north since the Met Office changed how it classifies warnings in 2011

Several weather warnings - ranging from yellow to red - have been issued across the country, with the worst conditions expected to hit Northern Ireland and Scotland

Red weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office this morning as violent 100mph winds are set to batter the UK. Experts have predicted Storm Eowyn will pose a serious 'danger to life' after record-breaking gales of 114mph were recorded this morning in the worst-hit areas of Ireland.

Storm forecasters say "a strong event cannot be ruled out" in the UK - with an explosive cyclogenesis caused by a major drop in air pressure bringing the "risk of a few tornados".

Storm Éowyn has hit the UK, with a red weather warning in place across Central Scotland from 10am-5pm. It’s already seen trains and flights cancelled, schools and shops closed, and people have been warned to stay at home and not travel. In Ireland a record wind speed of 114mph was recorded and an unprecedented number of homes are without power.

Red, amber and yellow weather warnings have been forecast for the UK as Storm Éowyn arrives. Find out which areas will be affected and how to prepare and stay safe during a storm, power cut and flood.

Storm Éowyn has the "potential to be very destructive," Met Éireann said while issuing its Status Red weather warnings. Check here for the Status Red, Status Yellow, and Status Orange weather warnings coming into effect for Ireland this week.

Red weather warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, are in place as fierce winds bring widespread disruption.