Barrie residents treated to double rainbow over lakeshore

A double rainbow over Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, Ont. on Thurs., June 25, 2026.

A clear and vibrant rainbow with an arch that could be seen in almost its entirety dazzled the Barrie sky Thursday evening.

While the Simcoe County region got nothing more than a couple of rumbles of thunder and sun shower on Thursday, it turned out that Mother Nature not being able to make up her mind, resulted in a magnificent double rainbow arched over Kempenfelt Bay.

Barrie residents travelling along the Lakeshore or anywhere around the city’s waterfront at around 8 p.m., were treated to all the rich hues of the rainbow that came through the cloud cover and added colour to an otherwise dreary, grey day.

Not only did the clear colours of the rainbow come through and stick around for a good 30 minutes or so, but another slightly more faded rainbow appeared just above the other one.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, a double rainbow happens when a part of a ray of sunlight is reflected again inside a raindrop. The colours become reversed from the original rainbow.

A severe thunderstorm watch was put in place by Environment Canada for Hanover, Dundalk and Southern Grey County on Thursday, but there were no watches or warnings for Barrie and surrounding area.

While a sun and rain mix are the ingredients needed to produce a rainbow, we’re expected to be getting more sun than rain this weekend ahead of Canada Day.

With some cooler weather for the first week of summer behind us, those looking for hotter and sunnier weather can look forward to the weekend.

Environment Canada is calling for a mix of sun and cloud on Saturday with a high of 24 C and those clouds will part on Sunday making way for a clear, blue and sunny sky as the mercury rises to a high of 27 C.

If you’ve been missing those warmer, summer days this week, Mother Nature seemed to be holding off until the weekend.