What is a characteristic of cumulonimbus clouds?

Cumulonimbus clouds are distinguished by their towering, vertically-developed structure, often indicating significant convective activity. These clouds typically form in conditions where warm, moist air rises rapidly, leading to the development of thunderstorms. As a result, they are synonymous with severe weather phenomena such as heavy rain, lightning, hail, and even tornadoes. The turbulence associated with cumulonimbus clouds can also be intense, especially in their updrafts and downdrafts, which are characteristics of unstable atmospheric conditions. This makes them quite different from clouds that signal stable weather, which would not typically produce severe weather systems. Therefore, the association of cumulonimbus clouds with severe weather events and turbulence clearly defines their role within the meteorological landscape.