Ireland weather: Major school closures update as Met Eireann extends Status Red Storm Eowyn warnings

Ireland is on high alert as Storm Eowyn approaches, bringing "danger to life" conditions on Thursday night and Friday. Forecasters have warned of "extremely destructive" winds reaching up to 130km/h, accompanied by heavy rain and even snow in some areas.

Met Eireann has issued a spate of weather warnings, including its highest-level Status Red alert for multiple counties. Initially affecting four counties, the warning was extended this afternoon to include most of Ireland.

Status Red warnings are now in place for 22 counties. The only areas excluded and are Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, which remain under a Status Orange warning, which, while less severe, still poses significant risks.

These red warnings take effect at varying times from 2am Friday. You can see the full timeline below.

Ahead of the storm making landfall, The National Emergency Co-ordination Group met today to assess the situation and issued an update on school closures.

It confirmed all schools, early learning centres, childcare facilities and higher education institutions in Status Red areas will close for the duration of the warning.

This affects institutions in Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow.

Employers in red-warning areas are being urged to allow employees to work from home where possible.

A Government spokesperson said: "A status red severe weather warning means ‘shelter in place’. People in the areas affected by red warnings should stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect themselves and their properties.

"Schools, early learning and childcares settings and further and higher education institutions in red level warning areas will close for the duration of the red warning.

"Employers in red warning areas should facilitate working from home for all employees who can do so. Only emergency service workers should be leaving home for work, where directed by their employer.

"Widespread disruption to public and other services is to be anticipated."

Speaking about Storm Eowyn, Met Eireann's Deputy Head of Forecasting Liz Coleman, emphasised the severity of the warnings: "Storm Éowyn will bring wet and very windy conditions on Friday, especially in the west and northwest. The very strong southwest winds with damaging gusts will start to be felt late on Thursday and will cause dangerous travelling conditions on Friday, with the likelihood of trees down and potentially power outages. Wave overtopping is also expected at high tide. There could be localised flooding further into Saturday associated to the heavy rain and to the snow melt.

"Western and northwestern counties are likely to see status orange wind warnings as a minimum, but we are monitoring the situation closely and will issue warnings as Met Éireann’s high resolution model, which provides information two days ahead, comes into play. We are in close contact with the NDFEM and emergency management stakeholders and will provide timely updates as the situation progresses.

"There will be a short respite from the weather on Saturday as Éowyn moves away, but we are also watching a different low-pressure system, forecast to bring impactful winds and further rain on Sunday. However, in this case the situation is still too uncertain; we will provide updates as the week progresses."

Storm Eowyn weather warning timeline

9pm Thursday to 3am Friday - Status Yellow rain warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford

The warning states: "Heavy rain leading to localised flooding."

2am Friday to 10am Friday - Status Red wind warning for Cork, Kerry and Limerick

The warning states: "Storm Éowyn: Gale to storm force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h. Impacts include danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events, structural damage, wave overtopping, and coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas."

2am Friday until 5pm Friday - Status Orange wind warning for Ireland

The warning states: "Storm Éowyn: Gale force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and destructive gusts of up to 130km/h widely, with even higher gusts for a time. Impacts include fallen trees, damage to power lines and power outages, structural damage, very difficult travelling conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport and wave overtopping."

3am Friday to 12noon Friday - Status Red wind warning for Clare and Galway

The warning states: "Storm Éowyn: Gale to storm force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h. Impacts include danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events, structural damage, wave overtopping, and coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas."

4am Friday to 12noon Friday - Status Red wind warning for Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo

The warning states: "Storm Éowyn: Gale to storm force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h. Impacts include danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events, structural damage, wave overtopping, and coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas."

6am Friday to 12noon Friday - Status Red wind warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon and Tipperary

The warning states: "Storm Éowyn: Gale to storm force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h. Impacts include danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events, structural damage, wave overtopping, and coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas."

6am Friday to 3pm Friday - Status Red wind warning for Donegal

The warning states: "Storm Éowyn: Gale to storm force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h. Impacts include danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events, structural damage, wave overtopping, and coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas."

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