Which cloud type typically indicates convective turbulence?

The cloud type that typically indicates convective turbulence is towering cumulus. This type of cloud is characterized by its vertical development and is often associated with thermals, which are rising currents of warm air. The strong updrafts within towering cumulus clouds can create significant turbulence, especially as the air rises and cools, leading to instability and the potential for thunderstorms.

Cumulus clouds also indicate vertical development and can be related to convective activity, but towering cumulus specifically suggests stronger updrafts and a greater likelihood of turbulence. In contrast, stratus clouds are generally associated with stable weather conditions and uniform overcast skies that do not produce turbulence. Nimbostratus clouds are associated with steady precipitation and are usually indicative of widespread rain rather than turbulence. Therefore, towering cumulus is the cloud type most closely associated with convective turbulence due to its characteristics and the nature of the atmospheric processes involved.