Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

Which stage of a thunderstorm has downdrafts only?

1. Developing

2. Mature

3. Dissipating

4. Anvil

The correct answer is: Dissipating

The stage of a thunderstorm characterized by downdrafts only is the dissipating stage. During this phase, the storm is losing its energy and moisture. The updrafts that were present in the previous stages, such as the developing and mature stages, diminish as the available warm, moist air is used up. Once the updrafts weaken significantly, the downdrafts become the primary feature, creating an environment where precipitation falls and the thunderstorm gradually fades. In the developing stage, the storm is still building up, and there are strong updrafts that fuel its growth. The mature stage is the most intense phase of the storm, marked by both strong updrafts and downdrafts coexisting, leading to severe weather phenomena like heavy rain, strong winds, and hail. The anvil is not a stage of a thunderstorm; rather, it refers to the upper portion of a mature thunderstorm, which can extend outwards and may be visible once a storm reaches its peak. Thus, during the dissipating stage, the absence of significant updrafts and the predominance of downdrafts signal the storm's decline, effectively highlighting why this stage is defined by downdrafts only.