© Met OfficeA series of weather warnings are in place for Friday.
A record wind speed of 114mph has been recorded in Ireland as Storm Eowyn causes widespread disruption on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Red warnings for wind cover the entirety of Ireland and parts of Scotland as the storm brings staggering winds that pose a danger to life.
Trains and flights across the UK face cancellation or disruption on Friday, while schools in Northern Ireland and central and southern Scotland have been urged to shut.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled, including at airports in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dublin.
London Heathrow Airport also reported cancellations on Friday and a “small number” on Saturday, a spokesperson for the airport said.
A string of public authorities have warned the public to travel only if absolutely necessary and National Rail has advised passengers to check for travel advice before travelling.
Red warnings for wind in Northern Ireland are in place from 7am until 2pm on Friday, and 10am to 5pm for western and central areas of Scotland.
Yellow wind warnings are also in place for the whole of the UK, while an amber warning covers northern England and northwest Wales from 6am until 9pm.
Ireland and Northern Ireland
In Ireland, where a record wind speed of 114mph was recorded, an “unprecedented” number of homes have already lost power.
Electricity provider ESB Networks reported 715,000 homes, farms and businesses had been affected by the storm.
In Northern Ireland, more than 93,000 homes and businesses are currently without power, NIE Networks has said, with the storm causing “widespread damage” to the electricity network.
Bus and train services have been suspended in Northern Ireland.
Schools, colleges and many businesses in Northern Ireland are closed today and people have been urged to work from home if they can.
A total of 16 departures and 16 arrivals have been cancelled at Belfast International, along with 23 departures and 20 arrivals at Belfast City.
About 230 flights to and from Dublin Airport have been cancelled today.
Scotland
Tesco said it was closing supermarkets in the red “danger to life” zone covering millions of people across Glasgow and Edinburgh.
All trains are suspended in Scotland and all CalMac ferry services have been cancelled.
Some health services have also been suspended, with NHS Lothian cancelling all routine, non-urgent planned procedures on Friday and postponing the majority of hospital outpatient appointments to protect patients and staff.
NHS Lanarkshire has also postponed all non-urgent appointments in hospital and community settings.
The Scottish Women’s Premier League match between Celtic and Hearts, scheduled for 7.30pm, has been postponed.
England
Train operator Northern said many of its routes are closed because of severe weather.
Some lines are blocked between Manchester Oxford Road and Warrington Central because of a fallen tree.
Services on these routes are also being disrupted by severe weather: between Bradford Forster Square and Ilkley; Bradford Forster Square and Skipton; Leeds and Bradford Forster Square; Leeds and Ilkley; and Leeds and Skipton.
The West Coast Main Line north of Preston and the East Coast Main Line north of Newcastle will also be shut today, affecting Anglo-Scots services.
Network Rail says “other lines across northern England, Scotland and northern Wales may also be closed at short notice”.
Sheffield United’s home game against fellow Championship side Hull City at 8pm is still scheduled to go ahead.
Some children’s playgrounds in London parks, including Hyde Park, will be closed as a precaution.