The Cloud Factory

Quietish day today - rained most of the time but eventually cleared up around 2:30pm. Got out for our walk a few minutes later.

On the way back this scene unfolded looking southeast. The sun has just set behind us (14:08) and is still shining red on the high cloud in the background.

The large 'cloud' in the foreground is in fact the output from the cooling towers at Drax power station - some 30 (yes 30!) km (18 miles) away. It is the largest coal fired plant in Britain and has 12 towers. The sun is still just catching this plume of steam.

The plume peters out gradually, but it can be followed all the way to the horizon to the left.