FAA Ground School Practice Test

Thunderstorms reach their greatest intensity during which stage?

1. Initial stage

2. Developing stage

3. Mature stage

4. Dissipating stage

The correct answer is: Mature stage

The greatest intensity of thunderstorms occurs during the mature stage. This phase is characterized by significant updrafts, heavy rainfall, strong winds, hail, and frequent lightning. During this stage, the mechanisms that drive the storm are fully developed, allowing it to exhibit its most severe weather phenomena. The updrafts become strong enough to support the growth of large cumulonimbus clouds, which can produce intense precipitation and severe weather events. In contrast, the initial stage involves the formation of the thunderstorm, where the cloud begins to develop, but the intensity has not yet reached its peak. The developing stage features the strengthening of the storm’s updrafts, but it is still building toward its maximum potential. The dissipating stage occurs after the mature stage, where the storm begins to weaken as the downdrafts become predominant, leading to a reduction in intensity and severity. Thus, the mature stage is clearly distinct as the point where a thunderstorm is at its most intense.