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Splash of colour: Auroras could light up Barrie area sky tonight

Major geomagnetic storm watch has been issued, with celestial event expected to start tonight around 7 p.m.
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The northern lights over Wasaga Beach at around 12:30 a.m. on March 24, 2023.

Tonight could bring a spectacular show in the sky as conditions appear to be setting up for a brilliant auroras over most of Canada. 

Barrie and much of Ontario could see the waves of green, purple and pink in the sky tonight. 

According to Space Weather Canada, a major geomagnetic storm watch is in effect from May 10 at 7 p.m. to May 11 at 7 p.m. (eastern daylight time).

A large solar flare erupted on May 9 at 1:41 p.m., reports Space Weather Canada.

"Solar flares can affect ionospheric conditions, particularly at low latitudes on the sun-facing side of the Earth," states the Natural Resources Canada website for space weather. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also issued a geomagnetic storm watch noting it's rare to have a watch at this level. Tonight's event ranks four out of five on the geomagnetic storm watch scale. 

Reporting by the Weather Network indicates the strongest aurora potential around 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.