NYC weather: Freezing temperatures follow snow squall

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After a brief, but intense, snowstorm Wednesday afternoon, temperatures in the city will stay below freezing until the weekend. 

The temperature reached a high of 32 degrees Wednesday before plummeting overnight. At 6 a.m. Thursday, the temperature was just 2 degrees in Central Park. There’s a high of 17 degrees Thursday with wind chill values between negative 5 and negative 15. 

Friday’s high will be about 22 degrees with wind chill values between 0 and 10. Saturday and Sunday will be slightly warmer, with highs of 37 degrees and 42 degrees, respectively.

The freezing temperatures have led to fewer blood donors, prompting the New York Blood Center to declare an emergency.

“Each winter storm further reduces our region’s blood supply,” said Andrea H. Cefarelli, senior executive director of donor recruitment and marketing at New York Blood Center. “With blood levels at critical lows, we are urging everyone who can to take one hour to donate one unit to save one life in the coming weeks.”

No precipitation is expected for the rest of the week.

Wednesday’s snow squall — a sudden burst of blowing snow that can create blizzard-like conditions — blew through the area around 3:30 p.m., though little accumulation was reported.

In Herald Square, about a quarter of an inch of snow dusted the tables.

Merriam-Webster reported a 6,300 percent spike in searches for the term “squall” on Wednesday as warnings and storm photos permeated social media.

As the storm moved out of Manhattan, Astoria resident Eamd Emkaur, 37, headed to Herald Square to take photos.

“It’s beautiful. I came to walk around. I love this weather,” he said.

​​​​​​With Li Yakira Cohen