A 23 year-old woman has died after a tree fell on her car in Mullingar in County Westmeath earlier today.
The country is being battered by storm force winds and heavy rain which is leading to hazardous travelling conditions.
Parts of the northwest are being lashed with winds of up to 90 kilometres an hour and gusts of up to 150k.
The Coastguard service is warning people to stay away from cliffs, piers and beaches as Met Eireann issues the highest possible type of weather alert.
Counties Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Galway and Mayo and the areas worst hit.
Meanwhile, the RSA is making a fresh plea for drivers to take extra care on the country's roads.
Fridays are the busiest days of the week for motorists, with many people travelling home for the weekend and the Christmas break.
Speaking to Beat 102-103 -Communications Manager with the RSA, Brian Farrell says drivers need to expect the unexpected.
