Gale force winds of up to 40mph will bring blizzards to the top of mountains, closing roads, with strong winds also felt on lower ground.
Airports are expected to shut down, trains to be cancelled and thousands of schools to close.
On the higher ground in the Pennines and Welsh hills up to ten inches could fall, while snow drifts will rise to several feet.
By the afternoon the snow will have moved to the east with up to four inches expected just in time for the evening rush to the pub in London. On the high ground in the east, where snow has already settled from earlier in the week, drifts could again be growing to several feet.
The snow will continue into next week and beyond, but not as heavily, with mostly winter flurries in the east and sleet and rain in the west.
But travel disruption will continue because of freezing fog across the country, ice on the roads, snow and gales.
In Norfolk 263 schools have already been closed due to the weather and a handful in Suffolk, Derbyshire, the North East and Nottinghamshire.
Councils are advising parents to phone up or check websites before setting off and commuters to also check transport.
The Met Office already had the country on a 'severe weather' amber alert and is considering a red alert for Friday as the snow threatens to make roads impassable and travel dangerous.
In the South West, where the snow may fall as rain and the ground is still saturated, further floods are possible.
Temperatures will barely get above freezing during the day and plunge down to -9C at night.
Helen Chivers, of the Met Office, said it is the most widespread and heaviest snow fall since 2010.
"East Wales, north west England, down through the midlands to the Bristol area will see the heaviest snow and biggest impact with 10 to 15cm," she said.
"Up to 25cm could fall on higher ground in the Pennines, South wales and higher areas around Birmingham.
"Clearly that brings some potential for severe disruption, not only in those areas but as the snow extends across country. People need to be aware this is on the way and change travel plans accordingly."
The 'snow band' will have moved across Britain by the end of Friday, leaving a few winter flurries and a weekend of cold weather.
Although the temperature will actually warm up over the weekend, it will feel colder because the snow on the ground will keep the air at around freezing. At night the mercury will fall again to around -7C in the south and down to -12C in the Scottish hills.
The weather is colder than usual January temperatures, which should reach around 5 to 7C during the day.
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