Q 01/05

Thunderstorms occur in which type of cloud?

A) Cirrus

B) Stratus

C) Cumulonimbus

D) Altocumulus

Answer · why

C) Cumulonimbus

The towering clouds can reach heights of more than 20 kilometres.

Q 02/05

What is the first phase of a thunderstorm's life cycle called?

A) The mature stage

B) The anvil stage

C) The dissipating stage

D) The cumulus stage

Answer · why

D) The cumulus stage

Moisture is lifted by thermals, converging winds or rising terrain and condenses into towering cumulus.

Q 03/05

What gives a mature thunderstorm cloud its characteristic anvil shape?

A) Strong surface winds

B) Air spreading out at the tropopause

C) Hail falling from the top

D) The Earth's rotation

Answer · why

B) Air spreading out at the tropopause

The resulting cloud is called cumulonimbus incus.

Q 04/05

What marks the mature stage of a thunderstorm?

A) Both an updraft and a downdraft at once

B) The first lightning strike

C) Rain reaching the ground

D) The cloud top freezing

Answer · why

A) Both an updraft and a downdraft at once

Turbulence at this stage brings strong winds, severe lightning and even tornadoes.

Q 05/05

How long does a typical single-cell thunderstorm last?

A) 2-3 hours

B) 5-10 minutes

C) 20-30 minutes

D) All day

Answer · why

C) 20-30 minutes

Without wind shear the downdraft cuts off the inflow and the storm 'rains itself out'.