How do thunderstorms form?

Q: How do thunderstorms form?

A: The thunderstorm formation process has three stages. These three stages are known as the cumulus stage, mature thunderstorm stage, and dissipating stage.

During the first stage the cumulus stage, the following happens, the sun heats the earth’s surface during the day. Then, the heat on the surface warms the air around it. Since warm air is lighter than cold air, it starts to rise (known as an updraft). If the air is moist, then the warm air condenses into a cumulus cloud. The cloud will continue to grow as long as warm air below it continues to rise. During the next stage, the mature thunderstorm stage, the cumulus cloud becomes very large; the water in it becomes large and heavy. Raindrops start to fall through the cloud when the rising air can no longer hold them up. Meanwhile, cool dry air starts to enter the cloud. Because cold air is heavier than warm air, it starts to descend in the cloud (known as a downdraft). The downdraft pulls the heavy water downward, making rain. The cloud has become a cumulonimbus cloud because it has an updraft, a downdraft, and rain. Lightning and thunder start to occur, as well as heavy rain. The cumulonimbus is now a thunderstorm cell.