Which stage of a thunderstorm is characterized by hail, heavy rain, frequent lightning, strong winds, and tornadoes?

The mature stage of a thunderstorm is the phase where the most severe weather occurs. During this stage, the storm is fully developed, and the conditions lead to the formation of intense weather phenomena. Hail can form due to the strong updrafts within the storm, allowing ice particles to accumulate and grow larger before they eventually fall to the ground.

Heavy rain is also characteristic of the mature stage, driven by the downward motion of rain in addition to the organized updrafts and downdrafts. Frequent lightning is produced as the electrical charges in the storm's clouds become highly active, leading to the discharge of electricity in the form of lightning strikes.

Strong winds can manifest due to the outflow from rain-cooled air descending rapidly from the storm. This can create gust fronts that spread out and may lead to severe wind gusts. Tornadoes may also develop during this stage when there are specific conditions that allow for rotation within the storm structure.

In contrast, the developing stage is focused primarily on the initial growth of the storm, while the dissipating stage indicates that the storm is weakening. The cloud formation stage pertains to the early buildup of clouds without the full range of phenomena associated with an active thunderstorm. Therefore, the mature stage distinctly represents