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.

An enormous bomb cyclone will slam Ireland late Thursday, bringing intense rain and wind on its way to delivering a separate blow to the United Kingdom. Damaging winds are expected across a wide swath of the region.

Ireland is preparing for extreme weather conditions Thursday afternoon and evening. Storm Éowyn is a so-called bomb cyclone and will possibly break European storm records. And its passage over Ireland could bring wind gusts of up to 200 kilometers per hour.

Ireland and Northern Ireland braced for a storm that officials warned could be one of the most dangerous they have faced when it hits early on Friday, forcing the closure of schools, universities and public transport.

Follow live as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland, with winds expected to reach up to 100mph in what's been described as one of the "most severe storms". The entire UK is covered by alerts for wind and a rare red weather warning will be in place for parts of Britain tomorrow.