View Te Ara in

Story: Weather

How a thunderstorm forms

This diagram sequence shows the stages in the development of a thunderstorm:

Stage 1: Warm moist air is forced upwards, forming a cumulus cloud.

Stage 2: The warm air meets very cold air in the middle levels of the atmosphere. The two air masses collide, creating thunder and lightning.

Stage 3: Eventually the warm moist air condenses as rain and the storm dies out.

About this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

How to cite this page:

Erick Brenstrum. 'Weather', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/weather/5/1