Record high winds from Storm Eowyn battered Ireland and Northern Ireland on Friday, leaving 560,000 homes and businesses without power and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and the closure of schools and public transport.

Storm Éowyn is about to hit the U.K. and Ireland as forecasters warn the explosive "bomb cyclone" will bring snow, rain and potentially deadly superfast winds.

Ferries, flights and rail services have been shut down across Scotland as a large part of the country braces for the arrival of a violent storm. Winds of up to 100mph are forecast during Storm Éowyn with a large part of Scotland's central belt and the south west under a red "danger to life" weather warning.

Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are braced for a storm spiraling in from the Atlantic, bringing gusts of up to 100 m.p.h., with forecasters warning of a danger to life.

The red warning for the whole of Northern Ireland will be in force until 14:00 on Friday. It is the first time a red weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland since an impact-based system was introduced in 2011.

Storm Éowyn, pronounced ‘Ay-oh-win’, has been advancing toward Ireland and the United Kingdom and is expected to bring gusty winds, heavy rain and some snow to the region Friday and Saturday.

A wind speed of 114mph brought by Storm Eowyn has been recorded in Ireland, the fastest since records began, forecaster Met Eireann said. Flights have been delayed, roads closed and ferry services cancelled across the UK as 100mph winds pose a danger to life in parts of the UK on Friday morning.

The storm had knocked out power to more than half a million utility customers by early Friday as it moved across Ireland.

Storm Éowyn is set to deliver miserable conditions for millions of Brits from tomorrow with wind gusts expected to surpass 90mph in some places while dumping snow in other regions

Storm Eowyn is set to batter the country when it arrives from tomorrow with cancellations expected for train, air and ferry journeys as wind speeds reach 90mph

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