The storm, named Eowyn, is being fueled by the same weather pattern that has brought brutal cold and a rare winter storm to the Southern United States.

All schools in Northern Ireland are due to close on Friday and the Met Office says there is a danger to life.

Schools in Northern Ireland will close on Friday after a weather warning was upgraded to status red and the Met Office warned of “very dangerous conditions” ahead of Storm Éowyn. Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed the decision before noon on Thursday following an Executive meeting.

"An Garda Síochána warns all members of the public that a Status Red severe weather warning means ‘shelter in place’. People in areas during the times affected by red warnings should stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect themselves and their properties," said a gardai spokesperson.

The national forecasters for Ireland and the U.K. both issued the most serious weather warnings Thursday about the impact of Storm Éowyn, which is expected to hit the Irish coast in the early hours of Friday before heading northeast to Scotland.

Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are braced for one of the most intense storms in decades, with forecasters warning of extremely rare hurricane-force winds and a danger to life.

Storm Éowyn is gathering strength, supercharged by the Arctic blast that moved through the US, and has the potential to trigger power outages and travel disruptions across the UK later this week.