Red warnings have been issued for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland on Friday, as dangerous Storm Éowyn heads towards the UK.

The rare warnings for wind mean flying debris could cause a danger to life, with gusts up to 100mph (161km/h) along some exposed coasts.

The Met Office warned people to expect damage to buildings with roofs blown off and significant disruption to travel, while all schools in Northern Ireland have been advised to closed on Friday. BBC Weather says it could be the storm of the century for the Republic of Ireland.

Two amber warnings are also in place for parts of Scotland and the north of England on Friday. The entire rest of the country is under at least one yellow warning as Éowyn brings strong winds, rain and snow.

The Met Office warns it is very likely there will be a risk to life and people should avoid travelling where possible.

The red warning for the whole of Northern Ireland will be in force from 07:00 GMT to 14:00 on Friday, affecting the morning rush hour.

Then as the storm moves east, a red warning is in place across Scotland’s central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, from 10:00 to 17:00.

Across the UK winds will rapidly increase from west to east on Friday morning into the afternoon with peak gusts of 80-90mph (129-145km/h).

There will likely be a large number of trees blown over with widespread disruption to travel with roads badly affected, and flights, trains and ferries will be subject to cancellations.

Power cuts are also likely, some of which could last for a number of days.

Train operators Avanti, LNER, Lumo and Northern have issued warnings not to travel in the north of England and north Wales on Friday.

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, Stormont education minister Paul Givan said the decision to close schools was taken to avoid any potential risk to life for children.

“Schools should put plans in place today for remote learning so that pupils can study at home,” he said.

For the Republic of Ireland, this could be the storm of the century, BBC Weather said.

Irish forecasters Met Éireann have already issued blanket red weather warnings covering all of the Republic of Ireland for widespread gusts in excess of 80mph.

Meanwhile, an amber warning for wind is in place on Friday from 06:00 to 21:00, for the north of England, north Wales and Scotland’s central belt.

Another amber warning warning for wind on Friday starts later at 13:00 to 06:00 on Saturday, for parts of Scotland.

However, the big change to the UK’s weather begins on Thursday, as heavy rain and strong and gusty winds move across the country.

Parts of the south coast of England, South West and much of the Welsh coast are covered by a yellow weather warning for wind until 18:00 GMT on Thursday.

It is likely sea fronts will be affected by spray and large waves and power and travel disruption.

Early on Friday Storm Éowyn will begin to affect the UK with winds initially in the south-western part of the UK with heavy rainfall before quickly spreading north-east to the rest of the UK.

There is also a chance of snow over parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and the north.

There are 12 warnings currently issued:

• red warning for wind for Northern Ireland from 07:00 until 14:00 on Friday
• red warning for wind for Scotland’s central belt from 10:00 until 17:00 on Friday
• amber warning for wind across all of Scotland, north-east England, north-west England and Northern Ireland from 06:00 to 21:00 on Friday
• amber warning for wind across parts of Scotland from 13:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Saturday
• yellow warning for wind for parts of London and the South East, South West England, Wales until 18:00 on Thursday
• yellow warning for wind across most of the country from midnight until 23:59 on Friday
• yellow warning for rain in parts of Wales, the South West and West Midlands from midnight to 09:00 on Friday
• yellow warning for wind in parts of the Midlands, east of England, London and South East England from 05:00 to 15:00 on Friday
• yellow warning for snow in parts of Scotland, in parts of the North East, North West from 06:00 until 23:59 on Friday
• yellow warning for wind in parts of Scotland from midnight until 15:00 on Saturday
• yellow warning for wind for the western side of England, all of Wales and Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland, from 08:00 until 15:00 on Sunday
• yellow warning for rain for the south and south-west of the UK from 08:00 on Sunday until 06:00 Monday

Storm Éowyn is the fifth named storm of the season.