Gusts of up to 80mph will batter the UK and Ireland as Hurricane Ophelia sweeps in threatening to cause travel chaos.
The Met Office has issued severe weather alerts, warning of potential power cuts, flying debris and disruption to transport and mobile phone signal.
The tropical storm has been making its way across the Atlantic and Ophelia’s remnants are set to reach home shores on Monday, resulting in “exceptional” weather.
(PA Graphic)
Northern Ireland is covered with an amber warning – meaning there is a “potential risk to life and property”, issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and “protect you, your family and community from the impacts of the severe weather based on the forecast”.
Very windy weather is expected across the entire region, while a yellow warning is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north east England, north west England, south west England and the West Midlands.
Gusts of 55-65mph are likely across Northern Ireland with 70-80mph gusts in the far south-east.
A smaller area of very gusty winds is then likely to run across Northern Ireland from the west with 65-75mph gusts possible for a short period of time in any one location.
Longer journey times and cancellations are likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected as well as some bridge closures.
Heavy rain is also possible in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
Red level wind warnings have been put in place for Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.
All schools in the red alert areas are to close.
The rest of the country is covered by an Orange level wind warning.
Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: “We do get these sorts of strengths of winds most winters. We generally get a few storms that will see these sorts of winds, but this is quite a substantial system because of where it’s coming from as well.
“And to get that sort of south-easterly strength across the south east of Northern Ireland – you don’t generally get that.
“You tend to get strong south-westerly winds because the systems come up across the northern half of the UK. So yeah I’d say it’s pretty exceptional.”
Mr Miall said Ophelia will have gone through a transition on its way across the Atlantic and will no longer be a hurricane, but will still bring “hurricane-force” winds.
Loganair in Scotland is offering free flight changes on routes that could be hit by the severe weather conditions.
The airline said, at the moment, it still intends operating a normal full schedule on Monday and Tuesday.
Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport.
Cork Airport said cancellations are likely, adding: “We ask all passengers to check flight status with their airline & to avoid travelling to @CorkAirport on Mon unless absolutely necessary.”
Ryanair said: “We will inform customers in the event of any changes to our flight schedule and the latest flight information will be posted on the Ryanair.com website.”
Irish Defence Forces are on standby to deploy resources, including transport and engineering assets.
The public has been advised to stay off the roads during the height of the storm if possible and to avoid coastal areas.
Cyclists have also been warned not to go out on their bikes.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) said the storm is expected to hit Kerry at 6am.
Localised flooding is possible.
The storm front will track northwards on Monday night, leaving Irish coastal waters before midnight.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: “Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action tomorrow.
“Please check in with older neighbours and those who need medical care.”
The UK Military of Defence (MOD) has three battalions – approximately 1,800 troops in total – permanently on standby to assist with contingencies.
But an MOD spokesman said they have not yet received requests from any local authority for assistance.
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