Multicellular thunderstorm
| Multicellular thunderstorm | |
|---|---|
Photo of a multicellular thunderstorm. | |
| Abbreviation | Cb |
| Symbol | |
| Genus | Cumulonimbus |
| Altitude | 500-16,000 m (2,000-52,000 ft) |
| Classification | Family D (Vertically developed) |
| Appearance | Multiple convective towers at different stages of life. |
| Precipitation | Rain or hail, heavy at times |
A multicellular thunderstorm cluster is a thunderstorm that is composed of multiple convective cells, each being at a different stage in the life cycle of a thunderstorm. It appears as several anvils clustered together. A cell is an updraft/downdraft couplet. These different cells will dissipate as new cells form and continue the life of the multicellular thunderstorm cluster with each cell taking a turn as the dominant cell in the group.