ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Think you’re a weather buff who knows their stuff? See if you can correctly guess this WFXR Weather Trivia question!

What type of clouds are usually associated with thunderstorms?

Certain types of clouds can be a sign of the weather to come. While some clouds indicate fair weather, others can suggest rainy weather ahead.

Thunderstorms need moisture, unstable air, and “lift” in order to form. The lifting mechanism will help the warm unstable air rise into the atmosphere, producing tall storm clouds known as cumulonimbus clouds.

The Latin cumulus means “heaped” while nimbus is “rainstorm”. Since there is a lot of moisture associated with these clouds, cumulonimbus clouds are heavy and dense.

Virginia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week will take place from March 6 through March 10, 2023. Make sure to tune in at 5:30 p.m. on March 9 for Safety in the Storm. The WFXR Pinpoint Weather Team will discuss different forms of severe weather and how to prepare you and your family ahead of the storm.