In which stage of a thunderstorm are downdrafts predominantly observed?

The dissipation stage of a thunderstorm is characterized by the predominance of downdrafts. During this stage, the thunderstorm begins to weaken as the updrafts that initially sustained it decrease in strength.

As the storm matures, it experiences significant development of both updrafts and downdrafts, resulting in intense precipitation and severe weather. However, it is the dissipation stage where the process of cooling and sinking air becomes dominant, leading to the weakening of the storm. The downdrafts dominate during this stage as the storm loses its vertical strength, ultimately causing it to fade away. This reflects the life cycle of thunderstorms, where the strong updrafts and associated features found in the mature stage start to diminish, transitioning into a phase governed largely by the cooling effects of downdrafts.

Understanding this sequence is essential for recognizing storm behavior and forecasting related weather phenomena effectively.