Cumulonimbus (from Latin cumulus 'swell' and nimbus 'cloud') is a dense, towering, vertical cloud, [1] typically forming from water vapor condensing in the lower troposphere that builds upward carried by …

Jun 6, 2025 · Bottom line: Cumulonimbus clouds, sometimes called thunderheads, are towering formations that can bring severe storms such as hail, lightning, flooding and tornadoes.

Learn about cumulonimbus clouds, including cloud description and facts, images, how to best identify them, and their species, varieties, and features.

Learn all about cumulonimbus clouds: their formation, characteristics, and effects on weather and aviation.

Jun 2, 2024 · The two main species of a cumulonimbus cloud are Cumulonimbus calvus and Cumulonimbus capillatus, which are differentiated by their topmost appearance, the former being …

Cumulonimbus is composed of water droplets and, especially in its upper portion, ice crystals. It also contains large raindrops and, often, also snow crystals, snowflakes, snow pellets, ice pellets or …

Learn about cumulonimbus clouds in simple terms. Understand how these thunderstorm clouds form, their characteristics, types, and dangers with interactive quizzes and engaging examples.

Cumulonimbus can be isolated storms or organized in groups. When cumulonimbus clouds form together in an organized system, the chance of severe weather increases.

Like many clouds, the cumulonimbus develops when warm air rises from the surface of the earth. As the warm air rises, it cools, and water vapor condenses into minute cloud droplets. In a thunderstorm, …

Cumulonimbus clouds can produce showers, thunderstorms, hail, gales, high turbulence, and mixed precipitation, like snow showers in winter. Although modern aircraft are protected from lightning …