Full red weather warning details as Storm Éowyn poses ‘danger to life’ and schools close across Northern Ireland

A rare red weather warning has been issued for strong winds in Northern Ireland as Storm Éowyn arrives on Friday, resulting in school closures and posing a ‘danger to life’.

Three wind warnings have been issued by the Met Office throughout Friday, with the red warning in place between 7am and 2pm.

It is the first such red warning in the north since the weather forecaster moved to impact-based warnings in 2011.

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It comes after a previous amber warning for the north conflicted with a red warning for the rest of Ireland and caused confusion.

The Education Authority (EA) advised that all schools should close in Northern Ireland as a result of the red warning.

Earlier on Thursday, some schools had already taken the decision to close - these included Whiteabbey Primary School, which announced it would close due to a “risk to people and property”.

Wind speeds are expected to reach gusts of up to 90mph inland and 100mph along the coast during the peak of the red warning period.

The Met Office has warned that “very dangerous conditions with widespread disruption and significant impacts” are expected.

Strong winds could result in flying debris endangering life, very difficult driving conditions on roads, power cuts and the closure of roads, bridges and railway lines.

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, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.

“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.”

Significant delays and possible cancellations to road, rail, ferry and air travel is anticipated, with Belfast City Airport advising customers to check for updates on their flights on Friday.

P&O Ferries have announced that their 4am, 8am and 12pm sailings from Larne to Cairnryan will not go ahead, while Translink is also advising customers to check for updates ahead of their journey.

A yellow warning for wind is also in place for the entirety of Friday, while an amber warning has been issued between 6am and 9pm for widespread winds of up to 70mph.

The strongest of the winds are expected to ease late on Friday as the storm passes through.

The Met Office has also warned that there is a chance of snowfall in Northern Ireland as the storm system initially hits cold air, but much of this will quickly change to rain.

In the Republic, a Met Éireann red warning is in place across Ireland, with the national emergency co-ordination group closing schools on Friday.