If it seems like the bright colours of fall have suddenly been muted, you’re not wrong.

A milky haze has coated the valley and Doug Lundquist, a meteorologist from Environment Canada, said it’s from the smoke from slash burns and fireplaces.

“There’s an inversion trapping all the pollutants in the valley,” Lundquist said

Overnight the Air Quality Health Index rating rose to a four in the Central Okanagan, which is considered a moderate risk to people with health issues, babies and the elderly. Across other areas of the Interior, like Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton, it was a three, which is a low risk.

That said, conditions may vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, based on what the specific conditions are.

“The good thing is, there are a number of things you can do right now to improve this,” Lundquist said.

He recommended that those who have fireplaces abstain from lighting home fires and those who do slash burns may want to wait until the venting index improves.

Lundquist said that the winds made their way into the valley from the north, so the pollution is not coming from wildfires in California.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.