They had to add a new color to the temperature map of Australia - hmmm, why would that be?
Off-The-Charts Heat Wave Brings Australia Its Hottest Average Temperature And New Map Colors For Temps Above 122°F! | ThinkProgress
The ground here in New England is no longer frozen - it stayed frozen for all of about a week. Do you know what the building codes call for a depth of foundation footings?
Four feet below grade.
I'd be surprised if the ground froze down 2 inches... and it was the same last year, too. Lakes and ponds are still largely open water - no ice to even skate on, let alone harvest.