Met office NI 'amber alert' brought forward
Ophelia is to batter the UK and Ireland with gusts of up to 80mph, with the Met Office warning of potential "danger to life''.
Last updated 16th Oct 2017
Fears about the impact of strong winds prompted schools and colleges to issue closure notices.
Northern Ireland is covered with an amber weather warning - meaning there is a "potential risk to life and property''. It is issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and protect themselves from the impacts of severe weather.
Shortly after 9am on Monday morning the Met Office revised it's Amber Alert for Northern Ireland - bringing it forward from 3pm to midday. It will remain in place until 11pm.
All Ulster University campuses are shut, while Queen's University has announced it will close from 12 noon.
There's also disruption to ferry services and a number of flights to and from Belfast City Airport have been cancelled.
Passengers are advised to check with their travel company before leaving the house.
The South Eastern Health Trust has also suspended patient transport services to day centres today.
Remnants of Ophelia - which was previously classified as a hurricane as it made its way across the Atlantic - will reach home shores on Monday, resulting in "exceptional'' weather - exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people.
Forecasters are warning of flying debris, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.
This leads to the potential for injuries and danger to life,'' the Met Office said.
Very windy weather is expected across the entire region, while a yellow warning is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north east England, north west England, south west England and the West Midlands.
In Ireland, Met Eireann has issued a status red'' weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry, warning of severe winds and stormy conditions.
Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said that while storms with these wind speeds tend to happen at this time of year, the one on its way is pretty exceptional''.
Mr Miall said Ophelia will have gone through a transition on its way across the Atlantic but will still bring hurricane-force'' winds.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action (on Monday).
Please check in with older neighbours and those who need medical care.''
In the Irish Republic schools, nurseries and colleges have been closed, court sittings postponed, numerous hospital outpatient appointments cancelled and the Defence Forces put on standby.
Businesses have been urged to consider whether opening would pose a risk to employees.
Across the island, many ferries, trains, buses and flights have been cancelled.
Airports are advising passengers in Ireland to check the latest information, with a number of Aer Lingus flights cancelled due to severe weather and the prospect of further cancellations with other carriers.
Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport, while Cork Airport said cancellations are likely.
Ryanair said: We will inform customers in the event of any changes to our flight schedule and the latest flight information will be posted on the Ryanair.com website.''
Bus Eireann said it will not run School Transport Scheme services on Monday in the counties of Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.
Loganair in Scotland is offering free flight changes on routes that could be hit by the severe weather conditions.
The airline said at the moment it still intends operating a normal full schedule on Monday and Tuesday
Met Eireann has issued a status red weather warning across all of the Irish Republic.
It has described the storm as the most powerful to have ever been this far east in the Atlantic on record.
Forecasters have warned of a potential threat to life and advised the public to stay off the roads and away from the coast during the height of the storm if possible.
Counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal are due to bear the brunt of the winds
Irish Defence Forces are on standby to deploy resources, including transport and engineering assets.
On Sunday, the Department of Education in Dublin said that all Irish schools, colleges and other education institutions are to stay closed on Monday.
The decision was taken following a special meeting of the government task force on emergency planning.