FAA Ground School Practice Test

What is one common effect of thunderstorms on flying conditions?

1. Increased visibility

2. Stable air masses

3. Severe turbulence

4. Calm winds

The correct answer is: Severe turbulence

One common effect of thunderstorms on flying conditions is severe turbulence. Thunderstorms create rapidly changing air currents due to the violent upward and downward motions of air associated with them. These fluctuations can lead to significant turbulence, which poses a risk to aircraft control and passenger safety. Pilots are trained to understand these conditions and avoid thunderstorms whenever possible, as the turbulence can be both sudden and intense, often exceeding the typical turbulence encountered in other weather scenarios. In contrast, the other options present conditions that are generally not associated with thunderstorms; for example, visibility is typically reduced due to heavy precipitation and cloud cover, stable air masses are often disrupted by storm activity, and calm winds are unusual during a thunderstorm, which tends to create disturbance in the air flow.