Unique optical phenomena puts on colourful show in Maritime sky

Like a rainbow turned to run parallel to the horizon, circumhorizontal arcs made an appearance in parts of the Maritimes on Thursday.
The unique optical phenomena is part of the halo family of effects.
The arcs are created by the refraction of sunlight by tiny ice crystals that comprise very high cloud in the atmosphere.
There were great conditions for that in the region Thursday, as high cloud spilled off a series of low-pressure systems and weather fronts to the west.
Here are a few of the pictures sent to me that shows Thursday's circumhorizontal arcs.
Photo taken by Barbara MacKinnon in Ben Eoin N.S.
Photo submitted by Barbara MacKinnon, Ben Eoin, N.S.
Photo taken by Natalie Boyles in Big Pond N.S.
Photo submitted by Natalie Boyles, Big Pond, N.S.
Photo taken and submitted by Lori Mason.
Photo submitted by Lori Mason.
Photo taken by Willie Currie in Glace Bay N.S.
Photo submitted by Willie Curry, Glace Bay, N.S.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Some emergency rooms across Canada shutting down amid staff shortages
Hospitals overwhelmed by the pandemic’s onslaught are still facing a number of challenges, causing unprecedented wait times in emergency rooms across the country.

'Defeated and discouraged': Airport frustrations sour Canadians' summer travel plans
CTVNews.ca asked Canadians to share their travel horror stories as cancelled flights, delays and lost luggage throw a wrench in Canadians' summer travel plans, due in part to staffing shortages at Canadian airports. Some report sleeping at airports and others say it took days to get to or from a destination.
Gunmen killed in Saanich bank shootout identified as twin brothers
Twin brothers in their early 20s were responsible for the shooting that injured numerous police officers at a bank in Saanich, B.C., earlier this week, RCMP alleged Saturday.
TD 'significantly' downgrades home sale, price forecasts
A new report from TD says Canadian home sales could fall by nearly one-quarter on average this year and remain low into 2023.
Dwindling salmon stocks mean endangered B.C. orcas are going hungry, researchers say
Researchers in British Columbia say the province's endangered southern resident orcas have not been getting enough food for years, with some of the worst bouts of hunger occurring since 2018.
Calgary's new 'Museum of Failures' aims to spark creativity
It's been said no one's success is complete without failure, but a new international exhibit in Calgary is proving that even some of the most talented innovators had some of the worst ideas for consumers.
Importing dogs from more than 100 countries to be banned in Canada
Animal rescue groups are criticizing a new policy by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that will ban the import of dogs from more than 100 countries.
Gas prices see long weekend drop in parts of Canada, but analysts say relief not likely to last
The Canada Day long weekend saw gas prices plummet in parts of the country, but the relief at the pumps may not stay for very long, analysts say. The decreases come after crude oil prices slid in June following the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes, sparking fears of a recession.
Anti-Taliban law could be tweaked to get more humanitarian aid to Afghans: minister
A law outlawing any dealings with the Taliban, which charities complain is impeding their ability to help needy Afghans, could be adjusted by the federal government to give more flexibility to aid agencies.