Four flights leaving Dublin airport have been cancelled while a number of other flights have been diverted due to strong winds caused by Storm Abigail.

There are delays on some flights leaving Dublin this evening and two inbound Aer Lingus flights were diverted to Shannon Airport earlier.

Two Ryanair flights to Dublin have diverted to Liverpool while two due to land at Knock Airport earlier were diverted to Dublin and Shannon.

Both airlines say the majority of their flights are running to schedule.

Four Irish Ferries sailings have been cancelled as a result of the bad weather.

"We are having some disruption to the flight schedule ... high winds have caused four outbound cancellations and there are a number of diversions on other flights," Siobhán Moore from the Dublin Airport Authority said.

"It is important for people who are travelling to check with their airline for the latest information before coming to the airport," he added.

Met Éireann has issued two weather warnings, as the storm approaches Ireland and the UK.

There is an orange wind warning in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

Southerly winds with average speeds of up to 80 km/h are forecast, with gusts between 100 and 120 km/h.

Winds will be strongest near coastal areas, peaking later this evening and early tonight.

While a yellow wind warning has been issued for Munster, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Roscommon.

Southerly winds of up to 55 km/h - with gusts between 90 and 100 km/h - are expected.

Meanwhile the storm is also set to bring gusts for the whole of Scotland.

Blustery showers are also expected in parts of northern England.

Storm Abigail is the first weather system in Ireland and the UK to be given a name following a campaign by Met Éireann and its British counterpart, the Met Office, to raise awareness about safety when severe weather is forecast.

Clodagh, Mary, Nigel, Henry, Abigail and Wendy were among names chosen to be given to future storms after a competition attracted thousands of responses from the public.

The UK Met Office has issued this forecast: