During which stage of a thunderstorm do larger droplets form and fall as rain?

The mature stage of a thunderstorm is when the conditions are most conducive for larger droplets to form and fall as rain. During this phase, strong updrafts and downdrafts coexist, allowing for the growth of water droplets. As these droplets collide with each other, they combine to form larger droplets. Eventually, the weight of these larger droplets overcomes the updrafts, leading to precipitation in the form of rain.

Additionally, the mature stage is characterized by its intense activity, including thunder and lightning, as well as heavy rainfall. This is when the storm reaches its peak in terms of energy and severity, contributing to the formation of larger rain droplets.

On the contrary, during the cumulus stage, the storm is still developing, and while clouds are forming, significant precipitation is not yet occurring. The dissipating stage occurs after the mature stage when the storm starts to lose strength and the precipitation diminishes, leading to a decrease in the size of the droplets. The developing stage is more of an early phase that does not typically produce sizeable rainfall. Understanding these stages helps in predicting weather patterns and the behavior of thunderstorms.