Cumulonimbus (cloud type)

Cumulonimbus clouds are large, towering clouds often associated with thunderstorms and severe weather. They form when warm, moist air rises rapidly, cools, and condenses into a dense, anvil-shaped cloud that can reach high into the sky. These clouds can produce heavy rain, lightning, hail, and even tornadoes. Their impressive height and dark, billowing appearance signal intense vertical development and energetic weather systems. Cumulonimbus clouds are a key feature of severe weather events and play an important role in the Earth's atmospheric processes.