A rare weather phenomenon known as ‘explosive cyclogenesis’, otherwise called a ‘weather bomb’, is expected to occur with the arrival of Storm Eowyn in Ireland late on Thursday night and into Friday morning.

Weather expert Mark Bowe has highlighted the "extremely rare" nature of a nationwide Status Red alert from Met Eireann. The National Emergency Co-ordination Group is urging everyone to hunker down at home, schools to shut their doors, and workers to avoid commuting until the storm blows over, likely by Friday evening.