Met Éireann has warned of extremely strong winds today, particularly along the north west and north coast.
It will be stormy throughout Connacht and Ulster, with gale force winds and damaging gusts of between 100km/h and 140km/h.
The meteorological service said it would be extremely windy elsewhere with gusts of 100 km/h at times.
It will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the morning, and some heavy bursts are likely before the rain clears later this morning and early afternoon to sunshine and scattered showers, the meteorological service said.
There will be some showers of hail in the west and north.
Tonight will be mainly dry, with winds moderating and just some showers in the west and north. It will turn cold, with lowest temperatures of one to four degrees and some ground frost.
The Road Safety Authority appealed to motorists to be "extremely careful" during the highs winds and to be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists.
It said vehicles could be affected by strong cross winds, gusts blowing through open areas such as gaps between buildings and hedgerows and debris falling on to roads. The authority appealed to motorists to report debris on the roads to gardaí and warned people to never attempt to remove debris from a motorway.
It also called on pedestrians and cyclists to take extra care when near traffic or crossing the road in extremely windy conditions as sudden gusts could blow them into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
The Irish Coast Guard has warned people to avoid exposed cliff paths, coasts and coastal areas during the high winds. It warned against participating in water sports and advised owners of small vessels to ensure they were safely moored.
"Huge waves can be whipped up by high seas," the Irish Coast Guard said. "These waves can pose hazards to anyone close to the shoreline. In coastal waters, rough seas often cause fishing vessels to capsize."