The European early weather warning system is on red alert ahead of Storm Éowyn which is expected to hit Ireland on Friday.

Met Éireann first issued its red alert across the Republic of Ireland yesterday. On Thursday, the UK’s Met Office also applied a red warning to Northern Ireland as well as central and southwestern areas of Scotland.

The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is monitoring the situation and has been in touch with Irish authorities.

The European network of meteorological agencies, MeteoAlarm, has also notified a “red alert for strong wind over Ireland.”

Met Éireann said a red warning was “rare” and represents the risk of “extremely dangerous [or] destructive” events.

The EU’s emergency centre operates around the clock watching for extreme weather and potential natural disasters. The ERCC is monitoring the progress of storm Éowyn.

The EU’s satellite mapping system, Copernicus, can also be activated to provide a detailed picture of conditions on the ground, especially when other communication networks are down.

For that to happen, a request has to be sent from Irish authorities.

It is understood that the EU is standing by in case it is asked to provide assistance.

The Irish government is advising people to “stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect themselves and their properties” during the storm.

People are advised to work from home. Schools and childcare facilities are expected to be closed. Iarnród Éireann says no train services will operate.

The worst of the storm is forecast to pass, possibly as soon as Friday afternoon, although very windy conditions are set to continue into Saturday. The UK’s Met Office says further wet and windy weather is likely on Sunday and there could be more weather warnings next week.