In the life cycle of a thunderstorm, what follows the cumulus stage?

The mature stage of a thunderstorm is the phase that follows the cumulus stage. During the cumulus stage, warm, moist air rises and begins to form cumulus clouds as it cools and condenses. Once the clouds develop sufficiently, they enter the mature stage, characterized by significant vertical development, intensified updrafts, and the potential for downdrafts.

This stage is when the thunderstorm is most active, exhibiting heavy rainfall, thunder, and lightning, as well as possibly producing severe weather events like hail or tornadoes. Recognizing the characteristics and significance of this stage is critical for understanding thunderstorm development and associated weather phenomena, which can impact aviation safety and operations.

The dissipating stage comes after the mature stage and refers to the weakening of the storm as the energy supply is cut off, while the other options refer either to earlier stages of the thunderstorm lifecycle or are not recognized as formal stages at all.