Cumulonimbus clouds develop from which among the following clouds ?

The correct answer is  Cumulus congestus clouds.

Key PointsCumulonimbus Cloud Formation

• Cumulonimbus clouds are large, towering clouds often associated with thunderstorms and severe weather conditions.
• These clouds typically form from Cumulus congestus clouds, which are a more developed stage of cumulus clouds.
• As Cumulus congestus clouds continue to grow vertically, they can develop into cumulonimbus clouds, reaching heights of up to 12,000 meters (39,000 feet) or more.
• The transformation from cumulus congestus to cumulonimbus involves the cloud becoming more vertically extensive and reaching into the upper troposphere.
• This growth is driven by strong updrafts within the cloud, which carry moist air upwards where it cools and condenses further.
• Once the cloud reaches the tropopause, the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, it can spread out and form the characteristic anvil shape of a cumulonimbus cloud.

Additional Information

• Cumulus congestus clouds are part of the cumulus cloud family, which are typically puffy, white clouds with a flat base.
• The cumulus cloud family includes various stages of development: cumulus humilis (small, fair-weather clouds), cumulus mediocris (moderate-sized clouds), and cumulus congestus (towering clouds that can develop into cumulonimbus).
• Thunderstorms associated with cumulonimbus clouds can produce severe weather phenomena such as heavy rain, hail, lightning, strong winds, and tornadoes.
• Weather forecasting relies on the observation of cumulonimbus clouds to predict severe weather events and issue warnings.
• Cloud classification is an important aspect of meteorology, helping scientists understand atmospheric processes and predict weather patterns.