4.5 million people will receive emergency alert on their phone at 6pm tonight

Around 4.5 million people will receive an emergency alert to their mobile phones at 6pm on Thursday after the Met Office issued a red danger to life warning for wind across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, the Cabinet Office said. The alert in response to Storm Eowyn will be the largest real life use of the emergency system to date and will cause mobile phones to make a loud siren-like sound, even if they are on silent when the alert is issued.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind on Friday January 24, meaning there is a danger to life across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. In light of the deteriorating weather conditions and associated disruption, and in consultation with the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, the Cabinet Office will issue emergency alerts early this evening to people affected by the warnings in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.

"The emergency alert system will send a message to every compatible mobile phone in the areas at most risk, containing information about the weather warnings and guidance on how to stay safe."

It comes as forecasters warned Storm Eowyn could bring winds of up to 100mph in areas affected by the rare weather alert across Scotland, Northern Ireland and north Wales on Friday.

In Scotland, 22 areas are covered including Clackmannanshire; Falkirk; Fife; Stirling; Dumfries & Galloway; East Lothian; Edinburgh; Midlothian Council; Scottish Borders; West Lothian; Argyll and Bute; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Renfrewshire; Glasgow; Inverclyde; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; and West Dunbartonshire.

In Ireland, six areas are covered including County Antrim; County Armagh; County Down; County Fermanagh; County Londonderry; and County Tyrone.

Rail services have been axed, schools forced to close and people told not to travel as the UK braces for the "threat to life" red weather warnings. Red weather warnings have been issued for wind in Northern Ireland from 7am until 2pm on Friday, and for western and central areas of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.

Train operator ScotRail has suspended all services across Scotland on Friday, saying it "would not be safe to operate passenger services due to forecast weather conditions". Passengers and motorists in areas covered by red and amber weather warnings have been told to avoid travel "unless absolutely essential".

It comes as schools in Scotland were advised to close on Friday for the safety of children and staff. Stormont's Education Minister Paul Givan also said the Education Authority had advised all schools in Northern Ireland to close on Friday.

A number of train companies including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Grand Central have told customers not to travel on routes across parts of North Wales and Scotland as "very strong winds, rain and snow" are expected to disrupt train services from Friday.

National Rail said in a statement published on Thursday: "A yellow weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for today, affecting southern parts of England and the coast of Wales. In addition to this, red, amber and yellow weather warnings have been issued due to Storm Eowyn and is expected to bring very strong winds, rain and snow to most parts of Great Britain on Friday January 24, and across parts of northern England and Scotland on Saturday January 25.

"Strong winds can blow trees into infrastructure, damaging the overhead lines that power electric trains. The winds can mean it's unsafe to carry out repairs at height - or with certain machinery until the winds have dropped. Trains may have to run at a reduced speed causing delays to your journey."

RAC Breakdown advised motorists in areas covered by a red weather warning not to drive their car "unless absolutely essential", adding motorists in areas covered by an amber alert should also "take great care" while driving.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "Red weather warnings are the strongest possible signal that drivers should avoid the roads - unless absolutely essential - until the danger has passed. With the worst conditions expected in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, we strongly urge motorists in these areas to stay safe by parking away from trees that could be uprooted by 100mph winds.

"Those in northern England and north-west Wales, where amber warnings apply, should also take great care if setting out. It's best to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, avoid coastal routes where the strength of the wind will be most severe and watch out for debris."

Northern Ireland's First and deputy First Ministers have also urged the public to avoid travel where they can on Friday. Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly spoke to media at Parliament Buildings following a meeting of the Stormont Executive. They were due to meet with police and described the situation as "evolving".

Ms O'Neill said: "It's important to emphasise that a red warning is very serious, it's only used whenever there is a genuine threat to life and potential damage to property and the public should expect significant disruption to travel and also potential power outages because of the severity of conditions. We want to assure everybody that we're working across government with all our partner agencies, councils, the PSNI, emergency services and other agencies to deal with any impacts and also in terms of preparedness."