During which thunderstorm stage are hailstones primarily produced?

Hailstones are primarily produced during the mature stage of a thunderstorm. This stage is characterized by strong updrafts and downdrafts, allowing for significant vertical development of the storm. Within the mature stage, the presence of powerful updrafts lifts water droplets to high altitudes where temperatures are low enough for the droplets to freeze. These frozen particles can then be carried upward multiple times by the updrafts, accumulating additional layers of ice and growing larger until they become heavy enough to fall to the ground as hailstones.

The other stages of a thunderstorm do not produce hail to the same extent. In the cumulus stage, the storm is still developing and lacks the organized structure that allows for hail formation. During the dissipating stage, the updrafts diminish and the storm is losing its strength, which significantly reduces the likelihood of hail production. The pre-storm stage is not an official stage of a thunderstorm, as it generally refers to the time before significant storm development occurs. Thus, the mature stage stands out as the critical period for hailstone formation due to the right combination of conditions.