Which atmospheric phenomenon can lead to severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms?

Cold fronts are associated with the sudden lifting of warm, moist air over cooler air, which creates conditions conducive to severe weather, including thunderstorms. When a cold front moves into a region, it forces the warm air to rise rapidly, leading to condensation and the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, which are responsible for thunderstorms. The process can release a significant amount of energy, resulting in intense precipitation, lightning, and even severe weather phenomena such as hail or tornadoes.

Mountain barriers, while they can influence weather patterns by forcing air to rise, do not directly create conditions for thunderstorms on their own. High pressure systems generally bring stable and clear weather rather than severe weather conditions, as they suppress upward motion in the atmosphere. Stable air masses are characterized by a lack of vertical movement and, therefore, do not typically produce thunderstorms since they do not encourage the development of the upward motion necessary for storm formation.