Thunderstorm Life Cycle
Watch a thunderstorm grow from cumulus to mature to dissipating, with updrafts, downdrafts and the hazards each stage brings
Show the hazard
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Practise the questions
Thunderstorms, Turbulence & Windshear85 questionsRevise with flashcards
Thunderstorms, Turbulence & Windshear12 cardsMore Meteorology simulators
Cloud Heights & FormsLifetimeFrontal PassageLifetimeWeather RadarLifetimeAltimeter SettingFreeWhat to try
- Press Play to watch the storm grow, reach its mature stage and fade, or drag the time slider.
- In the cumulus stage there is only an updraft. In the mature stage the updraft and downdraft sit side by side.
- Tap each hazard to see where it lives: turbulence, icing, hail, lightning, wind shear, gust front and heavy rain.
- Notice where the anvil points, because hail and turbulence can fall far from the rain.
Exam point
Memory aid for the stages: Cumulus = Climbing air only. Mature = Most dangerous, updraft and downdraft together with rain. Dissipating = Downdraft only. Keep 20 NM from severe storms and never fly under the anvil.
Study aid only. Figures here are simplified and fictional, so always use current DGCA and ICAO documents and the approved manual for real operations.