O. Sami Saydjari wrote:

Thunderstorm season is up us. I get a little concerned when I see
towering cumulus clouds forming in my flight path because I know that
towering cumulus clouds can turn into thunderstorms.

1. Assuming that thunderstorms were not predicted for the area, is my
concern unjustified?

No, one is always justified in being concerned about thunderstorms, or
more specifically, being concerned about avoiding them.


2. Do most towering cumulus clouds not mature into thunderstorms?

Yes, very few make it to a full-blown thunderstorm. Part of it depends
on your definition of towering. To me a 6,000 foot tall clouds is
towering, but if you mean 50,000 feet, then few probably get that high
without becoming a thunderstorm.


3. Wouldn't large towering cumulus clouds have chartacteristics similar
to thunderstorms (severe turbulence, possible hail, heavy rain, icing)
even if they don't end up becoming an official thunderstorm (lightning
present).

I can't say for sure, but I don't think you'd have most of the agove
without also having thunder and lightning.


Your advice and experiences would be most appreciated.

I've flown through many cumulus clouds that were 10-15,000 feet tall.
It is great fun, but can be a lot of work when IFR as it is hard to
maintain altitude and airspeed in some of the larger clouds. It isn't
unusual to gain or lose 500' while transiting a larger cloud.


Matt