Which stage of a thunderstorm is characterized by updrafts exceeding 3,000 feet per minute?

The stage of a thunderstorm characterized by updrafts exceeding 3,000 feet per minute is the towering cumulus stage. During this phase, strong updrafts are responsible for the rapid vertical development of the clouds. As the rising warm and moist air continues to ascend, it cools and condenses, contributing significantly to the cloud's growth and the eventual formation of a mature thunderstorm.

In this phase, temperatures aloft can drop rapidly, which enhances the likelihood of creating a strong updraft. The towering cumulus stage precedes the mature stage and is crucial as it lays the foundation for the development of thunderstorm characteristics, including precipitation and severe weather phenomena. The continuous upward movement of air is a key element in the transformation of the cloud into a fully developed thunderstorm.

The other options relate to different phases or characteristics of cloud formations and thunderstorms, which do not involve the intense updrafts associated with the towering cumulus stage. This distinction helps understand the dynamics that lead to more severe weather conditions typical in the later stages of a thunderstorm, such as the mature stage.