More than half the schools in Ireland have been advised to shut on Tuesday.
The Government is taking no chances with Storm Barra, with the Department of Education releasing a statement on Monday night with a school closure order.
It applies to 12 counties with red and orange weather warnings, including the two counties with the most schools in the country, Dublin and Cork.
The worst of the storm is set to hit through Tuesday morning, with torrential rain and winds of over 100kmp/h forecast.
The Department of Education’s statement reads: “A Red Alert has now been issued by Met Eireann relating to severe wind for counties Clare, Kerry and Cork.
“A status orange warning has issued for counties Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo, Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, Meath.
“Met Éireann has advised that there is a strong possibility that the status of parts of these counties currently in status orange are likely to change and escalate to status red.
“Due to the significant nature of Storm Barra, as forecast by Met Éireann and to give sufficient notice to schools and parents/guardians, the Department is advising that all schools covered by the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann should not open tomorrow, 7 December.
“All schools should keep up-to-date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins and in particular any change in the status warning for their area.”
Colleges and universities in the affected 12 counties have also been advised to shut for Storm Barra.
The advice for third level institutions came through the Department of Higher Education on Monday night.
A statement from the Department read: “All third level institutions should keep up-to-date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins and in particular any change in the status warning for their area.”
Earlier on Monday, Met Eireann extended the red weather warning for Storm Barra.
Initially, Cork and Kerry were the only two counties at serious risk, but that now applies to Clare as well.
Met Eireann said: "Storm Barra: Northwesterly winds will reach mean speeds in excess of 80 km/h with severe or damaging gusts in excess of 130km/h. Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected. Disruption to power and travel are likely."
