Which clouds are nearing the thunderstorm stage?

Cumulus clouds are indicative of the early stages of thunderstorm development. These clouds typically form when warm, moist air rises and cools, causing the water vapor to condense into visible cloud droplets. As the cumulus clouds continue to grow in height, they can develop into larger cumulonimbus clouds, which are associated with thunderstorms.

Cumulus clouds often start as puffy, white formations, but as they gather moisture and energy from the warm air below, they can transition into towering structures that are capable of producing severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. This transition marks the progression into the thunderstorm stage.

Other cloud types like cirrus, stratus, and altocumulus do not demonstrate the same characteristics associated with thunderstorm development. Cirrus clouds are high-altitude clouds that typically indicate fair weather. Stratus clouds are characterized by their uniform gray appearance and are usually associated with steady rain or overcast conditions, but not thunderstorms. Altocumulus clouds can indicate instability in the atmosphere but are often associated with fair weather unless they are part of a larger system. Therefore, the presence of cumulonimbus clouds originating from growing cumulus clouds indicates that the stormy conditions are developing, which is why