What is a common characteristic of a thunderstorm?

A common characteristic of a thunderstorm is that it often includes heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. These elements are integral to the formation and lifecycle of thunderstorms. The presence of heavy rain is due to the significant updrafts within the storm that can carry moisture high into the atmosphere, where it condenses and falls back to the ground. Thunder and lightning are results of the rapid movement of air and the release of energy in the storm.

While it is true that thunderstorms can sometimes produce varying visibility conditions, they are generally not associated with calm winds. In fact, they typically bring strong winds and gust fronts. A continuous updraft is a feature of certain thunderstorm types, such as supercells, but not all thunderstorms exhibit this characteristic; many also have downdrafts. Finally, thunderstorms are indicators of unstable atmospheric conditions rather than stable and calm weather. Therefore, the presence of heavy rain, thunder, and lightning clearly illustrates the nature of thunderstorms.