Life cycle or stages thumb|300px|Stages of a cumulonimbus cloud's life. thumb|Transformation from a mature cumulus congestus cloud to a mature cumulonimbus incus In general, cumulonimbus require moisture, an unstable air mass, and a lifting force in order to form. Cumulonimbus typically go through three stages: the developing stage, the mature stage (where the main cloud may reach supercell status in favorable conditions), and the dissipation stage. The average thunderstorm has a diameter and a height of approximately . Depending on the conditions present in the atmosphere, these three stages take an average of 30 minutes to go through.
Life cycle or stages thumb|300px|Stages of a cumulonimbus cloud's life. thumb|Transformation from a mature cumulus congestus cloud to a mature cumulonimbus incus In general, cumulonimbus require moisture, an unstable air mass, and a lifting force in order to form. Cumulonimbus typically go through three stages: the developing stage, the mature stage (where the main cloud may reach supercell status in favorable conditions), and the dissipation stage. The average thunderstorm has a diameter and a height of approximately . Depending on the conditions present in the atmosphere, these three stages take an average of 30 minutes to go through.