A Status Yellow warning has been issued for two counties with brutal conditions expected in some areas.
Met Eireann released the alert for Mayo and Sligo as unusually strong winds with gusts of up to 110km/h are expected to batter coastal regions.
The warning, in place from 3pm on Friday until 5am on Saturday, says northerly winds will reach mean speeds of 45 to 65km/h with gusts of 90 to 110km/h.
There is also a possibility of wave and spray overtopping along north facing coasts at times of high tide on Friday night.
A Status Yellow wind warning was previously issued for Donegal which details similar conditions.
Through Friday afternoon, evening and night, northerly winds will reach mean speeds of 45 to 65km/h with gusts of 90 to 110km/h with significantly higher gusts at times along north facing coasts and on the Inishowen Peninsula.
That warning is in place from 5pm on Friday until 6am on Sunday.
It comes as the first snow of winter in Ireland is forecast to hit on Friday.
A forecaster said: "Friday will be windy with fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds, strengthening to near gale force in the northwest later.
"There will also be gales around the coast. There will be sunny spells and widespread blustery showers and some of the showers will turn to sleet later, with snow possible on high ground.
"Temperatures in the early afternoon will be around 4 to 9C but it will get colder through the afternoon.
"It will be very windy on Friday night with strong to near gale force north to northwest winds and gales around the coast.
"It will become dry and clear in most areas overnight, but showers will continue in the north and west, with some of these showers wintry. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 4C."
As for the weekend, the forecaster continued: "It will still be quite windy on Saturday morning with fresh to strong north to northwest winds, but it will become gradually calmer through the day.
"It will be a cold and bright day with long spells of sunshine and while most areas will stay dry, there will be a few showers in the north and towards the west coast. Cloud will increase over the western half of the country later. Afternoon temperatures of just 4 to 6C.
"Early Saturday night will be cloudy, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle moving into western areas. This will move eastwards across the western half of the country overnight. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +4C, coldest in the east, with light to moderate west to northwest winds.
"Sunday will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heaviest in the northwest. It will be cold in the morning and will stay cold in the east, with afternoon temperatures of just 3 to 5C, however it will become milder in the west with temperatures increasing to around 8 to 11C.
