A leading weather forecaster has pinpointed the exact day this week that we should see the first "heavy snow" of this winter in the UK.

Earlier this week the Met Office said "wintry showers and strong winds" were on the cards heading towards this weekend. And advanced weather modelling maps showed temperatures in some parts of the country could soon drop to a chilly -4C.

Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden has said the "spread of cold Arctic air" will make conditions "much more seasonal and colder across our shores" in the coming days, particularly for those in northern regions.

READ MORE: UK weather maps show '-4C deep freeze' this weekend as Met Office warns 'snow coming'

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Weather forecaster pinpoints exact day this week 'heavy snow' will blast Brits
Snow is expected in the UK later this week (stock)

He has now pinpointed Thursday (November 23) and Friday (November 24) as when we will see "some moderate to heavy snow falling" in the UK for the first time this winter. This is expected in the "far north and Scotland" initially, although Madden said flurries could filter further south too.

Snow is expected to continue coming down into the weekend. Madden expects to see the cold weather "digging in" across Saturday (November 25) and Sunday (November 26).

Weather forecaster pinpoints exact day this week 'heavy snow' will blast Brits
Thursday could be when we see the first of the white stuff (stock)

In turn, he said this could bring snow to "other parts of the country away from the north/Scotland", with "parts as far south as southern England" potentially in the firing line. Madden encouraged people to "watch out" for the possibility of "transient but heavy snowfall" in parts of Wales as well as central and southern England.

Madden said: "We are still also likely to see a widespread littering of at least some moderate snow showers developing across the country during this upcoming weekend and into the early part of next week, and this does include some snow to lower levels.

Weather forecaster pinpoints exact day this week 'heavy snow' will blast Brits
The wintry spell is expected to last into next week (stock)

"The most likely spots for this will include but not be restricted to; north/Scotland, northern England, northeast England, and eastern England within this period."

The Met Office has tracked the emergence of snow on a similar timeline, but for now is yet to forecast it as widespread. The Met Office forecast for Thursday to Saturday states: "A weakening band of rain will move south across the United Kingdom during Thursday. Turning brighter but colder from the north thereafter. Wintry showers in the northeast. Windy at first."

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