Ordinary cell thunderstorms only last about one hour and begin to dissipate when ____.
A) lightning neutralizes all the electrical charge in the cloud
B) when all the precipitation particles in the cloud turn to ice
C) when the downdraft spreads throughout the cloud and cuts off the updraft
D) when solar heating at the ground begins to decrease

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the downdraft in the cell thunderstorm spreads throughout the cloud and cuts off the updraft, the storm begins to dissipate. This is because the updraft is what drives the storm, and without it, the storm cannot sustain itself. The other options do not accurately describe the end of a cell thunderstorm.

Ordinary Cell Thunderstorms Only Last About One Hour and Begin