Which clouds are typically associated with thunderstorms?

Cumulonimbus clouds are typically associated with thunderstorms because they are towering, vertical clouds that can reach great heights and have the potential for severe weather, including heavy rain, lightning, and hail. These clouds form as a result of strong updrafts and are often characterized by their anvil-shaped tops, which can spread out at high altitudes. The intense convection process within cumulonimbus clouds leads to the development of thunderstorms, making them the most significant cloud type when it comes to this kind of weather phenomenon.

In contrast, cirrus clouds are thin and wispy, typically indicating fair weather rather than severe storms. Stratus clouds are low, uniform clouds that often bring light rain or drizzle but do not have the vertical development associated with thunderstorms. Nimbostratus clouds, while they can produce steady precipitation, tend to cover the sky in a thick, gray blanket and are more associated with prolonged, gentle rain rather than the severity of thunderstorms. This distinction underscores why cumulonimbus clouds are the primary cloud type linked to thunderstorm activity.