A rare red weather warning covering Northern Ireland and Scotland was issued on Thursday before what could be the strongest storm in generations.

The Met Office said the arrival of Storm Éowyn on Friday could bring gusts of up to 100mph and “flying debris resulting in a danger to life”.

The red warnings, an upgrade of existing amber warnings, covered all of Northern Ireland and parts of central and southern Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayr and Peebles.

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Northern Railways, which operates across northern England, advised passengers to “avoid travelling where possible” as it cancelled services before the storm. The company said it was expecting “severe disruption” and had cancelled services across the network including trains across the Pennines, down the Cumbrian coast and between Carlisle and Newcastle.

LNER said there would be no services north of Newcastle in either direction from 11am on Friday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston or on its North Wales route.

Blimey, we’re in for a rough one.