Met Éireann has issued two national weather warnings in preparation for Storm Gertrude.
The wind warning for parts of the country takes effect from midnight until 9am on Friday morning with southwesterly winds gusting up to 130km/h at times.
An orange level wind warning is in place for 17 counties including Dublin as gusts of up to 130km/h are forecast.
The second highest level wind alert is in place for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford.
The southwest winds are forecast to reach 65-80km/h from midnight to 9am with gusts 110-130km/h. The strongest winds are forecast for northern and western coastal areas.
A yellow level wind warning, the least severe of Met Éireann’s warnings, is in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Limerick and Tipperary.
A yellow level general weather warning has been issued for the entire country as Storm Gertrude passes to the north of Scotland during Friday bringing severe winds in Ireland.
Met Éireann forecaster David Rogers said the weather will be “changeable” on Friday with high winds and showers in the north and west but they will abate in the afternoon.
Friday night will turn cold with temperatures falling to freezing, as the fresh southwest-to-west winds ease up a little overnight.
Mr Rogers said there is a possibility of sleet and snow in Ulster on Saturday but that it will become milder across the country on Sunday.
Cold day
Saturday will be a cold day with temperatures staying low all day in a moderate to fresh southwest wind.
Many places will remain dry but showers will be frequent and wintry in the west and north, extending further east during the afternoon.
It will be largely dry overnight on Saturday with temperatures below freezing.
AA Roadwatch has warned that high-sided vehicles will be especially vulnerable on open and exposed roads, while wind-blown debris is also likely to be a problem on secondary roads.