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The Three Stages of Thunderstorm Development in the Correct Order

Nature's severe weather events are awe-inspiring, frightening and can be dangerous. Huge, dark clouds rolling across the sky carry with them the expectation of rain, perhaps a lightning and thunderstorm and maybe even a tornado or a hurricane. In spring and summer months, particularly, the rising warmth of the ground surface creates instability in the air above, and the resulting clash spawns storms. Almost all thunderstorms, though, unfold with three basic stages of development, according to Pearson Education.

The Buildup
- Cumulus clouds do not always produce precipitation.
  
  The first stage of thunderstorm development is the cumulus, or developing, stage. In the cumulus stage of storm development, air and moisture rises on an updraft into the atmosphere, creating a cumulonimbus cloud. During this stage, precipitation is occurring but only within the cloud. As it continues, though, it slows the air. This drag, combined with the cooler, dry air that surrounds the cloud, begins the downdraft that leads to the next stage of the storm's development.
Where the Action Is
- Dark, heavy clouds can mean that a severe weather event is imminent.
  
  The mature stage of the thunderstorm is where most of the activity occurs. The clouds lose their hold on the precipitation. Rain, aided by a downdraft from the base of the cloud, begins to fall to the surface below. It is during this stage that you're most likely to hear and see thunder and lightning, high winds and slashing rain. In short, all the active elements of thunderstorms occur during the storm's mature stage.
Winding Down
- The air is often fresher after a storm begins to break up.
  
  The dissipating stage of the thunderstorm is when everything winds down, and the storm moves on or no longer exists. The wind ceases to howl, the rains are no more than a sprinkle, if anything at all, and the sky may again be seen through the dissipating clouds. The dissipating stage of the thunderstorm is not always the end of things, however, as the process can restart fairly quickly, even when it appears that the storm is over.
Extreme Weather Dangers
- Lightning strikes are rare, but it's always good to seek shelter.
  
  Thunderstorms can become dangerous when the storm front stalls and heavy rain inundates the landscape, causing flooding or fires from the lightning. When conditions are right, these same storms can also spawn tornadoes or other extreme weather events that are harmful to life and property. Even if you don't live in a place where these or other weather events occur frequently, it's always good practice to know what to do when you're confronted with severe weather.

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