An emergency alert has been sent to millions of people in Scotland ahead of a rare red weather warning. People with compatible mobile phones living in the 22 council areas of the country expected to be worst hit by the storm received the alert at approximately 18:00.

Friday’s red weather warning is the first in the north since the Met Office changed how it classifies warnings in 2011

Storm Darragh in December was the last time a red weather warning was issued. Before this the last one was in January 2024 when winds battered the north east of Scotland.

A rare red weather warning for "violent storm force winds" has been issued for the peak of Storm Éowyn on the Isle of Man on Friday. Ronaldsway Met Office said gusts of up to 85mph (137km/h) were set to hit the island between 07:00 and 14:00 GMT, representing a risk to life from flying debris.

Several weather warnings - ranging from yellow to red - have been issued across the country, with the worst conditions expected to hit Northern Ireland and Scotland

Storm forecasters say "a strong event cannot be ruled out" in the UK - with an explosive cyclogenesis caused by a major drop in air pressure bringing the "risk of a few tornados".

Red weather warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, are in place as fierce winds bring widespread disruption.