A "major incident" has been declared as Northern Ireland is predicted to face its strongest gusts since December 26, 1998, according to police.
In anticipation of Storm Éowyn, both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been placed under red weather alerts for the first time.
Schools, colleges, and universities have closed, and most hospital appointments have been cancelled, as "substantial disruption" is anticipated due to the storm's impact.
A red weather warning for severe weather conditions will be in effect across Northern Ireland from 7:00 AM until 2:00 PM GMT on Friday.
The Met Office has warned there is a severe threat and government officials are advising citizens to remain indoors.
A number of businesses, including supermarkets Lidl, Tesco, and Sainsbury's, also have been closed due to the severe wind conditions.
Public transportation service provider Translink stated that buses and trains will not operate during the red alert.
What is the advice?
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is urging people to take all the necessary precautions to protect themselves and refrain from traveling.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland issued the following advice:
- Please ensure your devices are fully charged
- Make certain that emergency lighting such as flashlights are easily accessible in the event of a power outage.
- It's recommended to have backup plans for staying warm in case your heating system is interrupted or fails.
- Please check on your vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbors to make sure they have necessary supplies in case carers or emergency services are unable to reach them.
- In case of an emergency, call 999
On Thursday, First Minister Michelle O'Neill
She emphasized that a red warning is extremely serious and is only issued when there is a true and genuine threat to life.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly stated that individuals should remain indoors as much as possible.
Education Minister Paul Givan explained he comprehends that the closure will have impacts on the operations of schools and other commercial establishments but the decision has been taken "to avert any conceivable risk to life for children and young individuals as well as personnel".
The "largest real-life use to date" of its Emergency Alert system, warning 4.5 million people about severe weather in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
Travel disruption
All Translink buses and trains in Northern Ireland will be temporarily out of service from Friday morning until early afternoon.
Ian Campbell, Director of Services, stated that services would be reinstated "wherever it is safe to do so".
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A number of flights from Belfast City Airport have been cancelled, while Belfast International Airport and Derry's City of Derry Airport have also informed passengers to prepare for flight delays and cancellations.
Dublin Airport stated that there might be "some disruption" to the flight schedule for Friday, and advised passengers to reach out to their airline directly for further information.
P&O has announced ferry cancellations between Larne and Cairnryan from 4:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Stena Line services between Ireland and Great Britain are also severely disrupted.
Hospital appointments
Four of Northern Ireland's health trusts have informed that all appointments are cancelled, or are subject to cancellation, unless individuals have received explicit confirmation to the contrary.
The South Eastern, Belfast, Western and Northern health trusts have stated that this includes cancer referrals flagged for concern and all scheduled appointments, with "significant disruption" anticipated.
Normal operations will be maintained in emergency departments and care settings.
The South Regional Health Authority announces cancellation of all outpatient appointments and all non-essential surgical procedures, including those with priority and urgent care classifications.
Storm Éowyn weather forecast
After a recent cold snap in North America, strong jet stream winds have been pushing a low-pressure system towards the UK and Ireland across the Atlantic Ocean, bringing this weather condition about.
The most severe weather warning the Met Office can issue is red, indicating that hazardous weather conditions are anticipated, prompting people to take protective measures to ensure their safety and that of others.
A red warning for the whole of Northern Ireland will be in place until 2:00 PM on Friday.
This is the first time a red weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland since the impact-based system was implemented in 2011.
Winds are expected to swiftly intensify on the next day with peak gusts of 130-145 kilometers per hour and potentially reaching up to 160 kilometers per hour along certain exposed coastlines.
Further amber and yellow weather warnings will be in effect on Friday.
There are other warnings
In Ireland, Met Éireann has issued a warning that "severe, damaging and destructive winds" are forecast.
Red alerts are triggered at different times, starting from 02:00 in the local time zone.
Speaking to RTÉ, chairman of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group said Storm Eowyn would "probably be among the severest storms" Ireland had ever faced.
An Garda Síochána (Irish police) advise all members of the public to take precautions when a red severe weather warning is issued, meaning "shelter in place".
A yellow warning for strong winds has been issued for Northern Ireland from 08:00 to 15:00 on Sunday.
The Met Office is anticipating a continuation of moderately to strongly gusty conditions, with gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour, affecting a widespread area, and potentially exceeding 70 miles per hour in exposed coastal and hilly areas.