During the life cycle of a thunderstorm, which stage is characterized predominantly by downdrafts?

The stage of a thunderstorm life cycle that is characterized predominantly by downdrafts is the dissipating stage. During this phase, the storm has used most of its available energy and begins to lose its intensity. As the precipitation continues to fall, it creates significant cooling in the atmosphere, leading to the formation of downdrafts. These downdrafts dominate this stage, resulting in the weakening of the storm's structure.

In contrast, the mature stage is marked by a balance of both updrafts and downdrafts, which allows the storm to reach its peak intensity. The developing stage is when the storm is still forming and primarily characterized by increasing updrafts. The term "establishing" is not a recognized phase within the thunderstorm life cycle. Therefore, the dissipating stage represents the point where downdrafts take precedence, showcasing how the storm is losing its strength and energy.