Mature Stage
When the cumulus cloud becomes very large, the water in it
become 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 cool 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.
This 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.
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