Lightning, thunder, hail, and occasionally tornadoes are associated with which cloud type?

Cumulonimbus clouds are the towering, dense clouds commonly associated with severe weather phenomena such as lightning, thunder, hail, and even tornadoes. These clouds are characterized by their vertical development and can reach high altitudes in the atmosphere, providing the necessary conditions for intense thunderstorms.

The formation of cumulonimbus clouds involves strong updrafts of warm, moist air rising rapidly, which can lead to the development of convective storms. Within these clouds, the various processes—such as condensation, collision, and coalescence of water droplets—contribute to the generation of significant electrical activity, resulting in lightning and thunder. Additionally, the intense updrafts can lead to hail formation, as hailstones can be carried upward multiple times within the cloud, accumulating layers of ice before falling to the ground.

Tornadoes are also often formed from supercell thunderstorms, which are a type of storm that frequently originates from cumulonimbus clouds. The wind shear and atmospheric instability associated with these clouds make them conducive to the development of tornadoes.

In contrast, other cloud types like cumulus clouds are generally associated with fair weather and light precipitation, nimbostratus clouds are linked to steady, overcast rain, and cirrostratus clouds primarily indicate