FAA Ground School Practice Test

What happens to the downdrafts as a thunderstorm matures?

1. They intensify

2. They disappear

3. They weaken

4. They stabilize

The correct answer is: They intensify

As a thunderstorm matures, downdrafts intensify due to several factors inherent in the storm's lifecycle. Initially, as the storm develops, both updrafts and downdrafts are present; however, as the storm gains strength and matures, the updrafts can become more robust, leading to an increased rate of precipitation. As the rain falls, it drags air down with it, increasing the strength of the downdrafts. Additionally, the cooling from the precipitation contributes to an increase in the density of the surrounding air, which helps to drive the downdrafts even more forcefully towards the ground. This process can lead to more severe weather phenomena associated with mature thunderstorms, such as stronger winds and potential microbursts—conditions that highlight the intensified downdrafts present during this stage. The other choices reflect different dynamics that occur in various stages of a thunderstorm, but they do not capture the true behavior of downdrafts in a mature thunderstorm scenario.