What is a major feature of the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm?

In the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm, one of the defining characteristics is the predominance of downdrafts. During this phase, the strong updrafts that fuel the thunderstorm are no longer sufficient to sustain the storm's energy. As the storm weakens, the updrafts diminish, and the downdrafts take over, leading to a decrease in overall activity and a gradual decline in precipitation intensity.

In this stage, the downdrafts are primarily responsible for the cooling of the storm environment, leading to the dissipation of the thunderstorm. This is a crucial phase, as it indicates the storm is transitioning into a more stable state. The evaporation of precipitation contributes to the downdrafts, further reducing the storm's energy.

Other qualities of the dissipating stage include a reduction in lightning and thunder activity. The intense precipitation seen in earlier stages subsides as the storm loses strength, which helps to set apart the dissipating stage from the stages of storm development where updrafts and intense precipitation are more pronounced.