What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?

The three stages of a thunderstorm are best categorized as cumulus, mature, and dissipating.

In the cumulus stage, warm air rises and cools, leading to the formation of cumulus clouds. This stage involves the initial development of the thunderstorm, where updrafts are dominant, and precipitation has not yet occurred.

As the storm transitions to the mature stage, it reaches peak intensity. This stage is characterized by both powerful updrafts and downdrafts, leading to the development of precipitation, thunder, and lightning. The mature stage is where the storm exhibits its most severe characteristics, including heavy rain and potential severe weather phenomena.

Finally, in the dissipating stage, the storm begins to weaken. The downdrafts dominate, and the updrafts diminish, leading to a reduction in precipitation and the eventual dissipation of the storm.

While the other options may represent different aspects of storm life cycles or weather phenomena, they do not specifically identify the conventional stages that thunderstorms undergo as clearly as the cumulus, mature, and dissipating terminology.