What is a characteristic of the final stage of a thunderstorm?

In the final stage of a thunderstorm, heavy rainfall is a defining characteristic. This is typically associated with the mature stage of a thunderstorm, where significant amounts of moisture have been accumulated in the clouds, leading to intense precipitation. The downdraft, caused by the cooling of air due to the falling rain, can lead to a heavy and sustained downpour as the storm reaches its peak intensity.

At this point, the storm may also exhibit strong winds, hail, and possibly even produce severe weather phenomena like tornadoes. The heavy rain can lead to flash flooding, especially if the storm lingers over the same area. This heavy precipitation is crucial as it signifies that the storm is actively releasing the moisture it has collected during its previous stages.

The other options describe characteristics that might be observed in different stages of a thunderstorm. For instance, clouds growing taller pertains more to the cumulus and mature stages rather than signaling the finality of the storm. Water vapor cooling and condensing into cloud is a process that occurs during the initial formation of a storm, and frictional drag between raindrops and air relates to the complexities of how rain falls but does not define the final stage itself. Thus, heavy rainfall solidifies the recognition of the thunder