GALLERY: Northern Lights put on a vibrant show overnight

The Perseid meteor shower was at its peak Sunday night, but a vibrant display of the Northern Lights ended up taking the spotlight. 

A strong geomagnetic storm caused stunning colours to fill the skies for millions around North America, including right here in the Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area. 

Residents from around the area have been taking to social media to share their images of the spectacle. Batchawana Bay and parts of Old Goulais Bay Road appeared to have some of the best viewing opportunities in the early hours of Monday morning.

According to The Weather Network, the auroras were caused by strong geomagnetic energy due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) impacting Earth's magnetic field. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that Sunday night's magnetic storms were measured at G3 (strong), with a K-index of 5 to 7, indicating these were strong and vibrant storms.

Aurora Forecast says the solar storm ranked a 9 out of 10 on its strength scale in many parts of the country.

In just the last year, the Northern Lights have made several appearances in the area, including one display three months ago and another in September 2023.