When it comes to grey skies, Okanaganites aren91裸聊视频檛 wusses.

We spend the vast majority of winter snug under a blanket of mist that wipes out all traces of light from the skies above.

Some head to the mountains for a blue-sky reprieve. But for those of us who don91裸聊视频檛 find joy in snow the only choice is to grin and bear it, keeping in mind it isn91裸聊视频檛 really too oppressive a payment when the valley91裸聊视频檚 glorious summers are taken into consideration.

Hot days punctuated by lake dips and lackadaisical beach visits mean everything.

The food and wine is great. The outdoor experience is unparalleled. That is the lure of Okanagan life.

Or that used to be the case.

In recent years we91裸聊视频檝e come to expect dark clouds of smoke rolling into the valley, choking out all signs of sun and filling mouths with the taste of ash. The remnants of forests have to be wiped from one91裸聊视频檚 face every night, lest they leave an imprint on pillow cases.

It91裸聊视频檚 wretched. The sky simply shouldn91裸聊视频檛 taste like a bad barbecue. The sight of sun shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be a novelty. The mountains, be they ever-so-brown should be seen in their full glory, not hidden under a veil of soot.

It91裸聊视频檚 enough to test the most murk-resilient woman91裸聊视频檚 will to stay put.

A lot of that decision is hinged on the idea that next year won91裸聊视频檛 be the same, but these conditions are increasingly being referred to as the deceivingly banal sounding 91裸聊视频渘ew normal.91裸聊视频�

If scientists are to be trusted, these smoky days may be just the tip of the melting iceberg.

Global warming helped fuel the hottest year on record in 2016, with greenhouse gas concentrations reaching a new high, according to a report released Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bloomberg is reporting the document that was prepared by almost 500 scientists from around the world, indicates there were more major tropical cyclones than usual, longer droughts and less snow cover.

I91裸聊视频檓 no climate scientist, but I think this might mean there we will more sooty skies ahead for our valley.

So what now? If the die is cast, and we91裸聊视频檙e on an increasingly warming planet, how do we adapt? What can we do to ensure that the lives we91裸聊视频檝e all built in this valley are still tolerable?

South of the border the conversation is still around whether or not there is a thing called global warming, but up here our governments have taken a different tack.

They acknowledge change is afoot, so now I91裸聊视频檇 like to start hearing more about how that will play out in their policy making.

And I want to hear it soon. This 91裸聊视频渘ew normal91裸聊视频� isn91裸聊视频檛 keeping me in vitamin D, and I91裸聊视频檓 getting more cranky as the days wear on.

I91裸聊视频檇 rather look to the future with some hope than stare at the skies above like Chicken Little and wonder what91裸聊视频檚 next.