This was probably the best skiing day this winter so far in the mid-range Sauerland, with sunshine and up to 20 inches of natural snow in the higher elevations (plus artificial snow).
Here are some pics, one I took of the mountain range from 30 miles distance not far from my home, the others taken from web cams.

While the northeastern US obviously has too much snow (nobody posting here, why not?), some skiing areas in my region had to close again yesterday. Those below 2,100 feet of altitude without artificial snow production had no chance to keep it open with wet, melting snow, and, what's worse, all models predict mild temperatures for the rest of February. So after the total loss of last winter, some areas will have had just 10 days of operation this winter.

I just saw the present temperatures and forecast for New York City, permament freezing temperatures for several days, probably down to -18C/0F Friday night... It's really impressive how much milder it is here in Germany on the 51st degree of latitude, which would be somewhere in New Foundland in North America... Our lowest night temperature this entire winter in my region was around 20F (-7C).

Record breaking temperatures in North Rhine Westphalia and the Eastern Netherlands: Today I measured the hottest day ever in my garden since beginning of measurement in the 1980s: 36.9 C / 98 F. In some places in the Lower Rhine as well as Maastricht, Netherlands (where Bachus lives) temperatures hit 100 F (38 C).

That sure is hot for that part of the world.

Here in Ontario summer hasn't even started yet.

We've just had almost too much of summer now, although I generally like summer. Four days of at least 32C (90F) in a row, one day 37 (98), and yesterday 36.6 (97) again, with increasing night temperatures (around 27C/80F at midnight). As most people don't have proper air conditioning in the houses, some really suffer at night especially in the upper floors, where it stays around 28-30C.
We've got two portable air conditioners with a hose you have to put outside the window - they really lack efficiency, I only use them from the late evening on until I go to bed, they work ok then. A split air conditioning would be better, but as soon as you've invested in it, the next 5 summers will probably be Middle European again

Just have to add: a new German all-time high was officially recorded yesterday: the national weather institution measured 40.3 C (104.6 F) in the Franconian town of Kitzingen (northern Bavaria). (The former record was 40.2/104.4).

Here you can see the result of the July drought in the southern and eastern parts of Germany. The Elbe river is blocked for larger boats. This is a picture of Dresden from July 21.
The Elbe river (originating in the Riesengebirge on the Czech-Polish border) always has to struggle with low water levels much more than the Rhine, which has three times as much water discharge and doesn't dry out that much as water supply from the Alps is much steadier throughout summer, too.
http://www.focus.de/fotos/fast-ausgetrocknet-blick-auf-dresden-und-die-elbe_id_4829538.html

The last two days of August were unusually hot again in most parts of Germany, reaching 32C/90F in my region and 36-37C/97-99F in some places in the eastern states and Regensburg, Bavaria. Usually, such temperatures aren't reached after August 20 any more, as the angle of the sun has already decreased to about 47 degrees maximum on August 31 in central Germany.
Now, autumn has come like a shock with afternoon temperatures of 16C/61F, the forecast being even further downwards.