cumulonimbus
Towering thunderstorm cloud
Cumulonimbus is the towering storm cloud responsible for thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and tornadoes.
These massive formations rise vertically through the atmosphere, often spreading into an anvil shape at the top.
The word combines cumulus (heaped) with nimbus (rain-bearing).
Cumulonimbus clouds were building on the horizon.
Violent weather with lightning
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- hailIcy precipitation pellets
- downpourIntense precipitation event
microburst · derecho · squall · precipitation · cloudburst · severe weather · tornado · waterspout
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- electrificationConversion to powered systems
- flashBrief burst of light
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
strike · plasma · ionization · electrostatic · sprite · St. Elmo's fire
Low, flat cloud layer
- cirrusHigh wispy ice formation
- altostratusMid-level sheet cloud
- cirrostratusHigh thin ice sheet
- anvilMetal-shaping block
thunderhead · supercell · mesocyclone · mammatus · pileus · arcus · shelf cloud
Of imposing height
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
- soaringRising effortlessly upward
- verticalAt right angles groundward
- colossalExtremely large in scale
monumental · altitude · imposing · dramatic · ominous · looming · billowing
Upward air movement
- downdraftDescending air current
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
moisture · convergence · lifting · troposphere · overshooting · turret · cauliflower · billowing
thunderstorm
Violent weather with lightning
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- hailIcy precipitation pellets
downpour · microburst · derecho · squall · precipitation · cloudburst · severe weather · tornado · waterspout · flash flood
lightning
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- electrificationConversion to powered systems
- flashBrief burst of light
bolt · strike · plasma · ionization · electrostatic · sprite · St. Elmo's fire
stratus
Low, flat cloud layer
- cirrusHigh wispy ice formation
- altostratusMid-level sheet cloud
- cirrostratusHigh thin ice sheet
anvil · thunderhead · supercell · mesocyclone · mammatus · pileus · arcus · shelf cloud
towering
Of imposing height
colossal · monumental · altitude · imposing · dramatic · ominous · looming · billowing
updraft
Upward air movement
- downdraftDescending air current
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
instability · moisture · convergence · lifting · troposphere · overshooting · turret · cauliflower · billowing
- atmosphereair, humidity, atmosphere, temperature, oxygen
- rainrain, drizzling, downpour, raindrop, raindrops
- skyclouds, blue sky, cloud, sun, moon
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- Thunderstormslightning, thunder, thunderstorm, lightning strike, thunderclap
- meteorologyweather, rain, wind, snow, clouds
cumulonimbuscirrus
High wispy ice formation
cirrostratus · mare's tails · wispy clouds · stratus · clear sky
cumulonimbusblue sky
Unclouded daytime atmosphere
cirrus · fair weather · clear skies · sunshine · calm
nimbus, cumulus, nimbuses, altocumulus, stratocumulus, cirrocumulus