Which cloud types indicate convective turbulence?

Towering cumulus clouds are indicative of convective turbulence due to their association with vigorous vertical development and significant updrafts and downdrafts. These clouds form in conditions of unstable air, where warm, moist air rises rapidly, leading to the formation of these towering structures. The strong convection associated with towering cumulus clouds not only leads to visible height but also intense turbulence due to the rapid movement of air parcels within and around the clouds.

In contrast, the other cloud types listed do not typically indicate such turbulence. Cirrus clouds are high-altitude clouds made of ice crystals, indicative of fair weather or approaching weather systems, but they do not form from convective activity. Nimbostratus clouds are thick, layered clouds that often bring continuous rain but lack the vertical development characteristic of convective turbulence. Stratus clouds are low, uniform clouds that cover the sky but do not have the vertical growth associated with turbulent conditions. Thus, towering cumulus clouds are the primary indicator of convective turbulence in the atmosphere.