Should the turbulent air throw the ice crystals back above the freezing level the above process can repeat, until the updraft can no longer support the increased weight of the ice crystals. As the crystals fall they melt and rain falls from the cloud. Additionally, surrounding air is cooled as the ice melts. This cold heavy air outflows at the ground, which in turn, cools the land surface and in time stops the thunderstorm process. These outflows can travel 30 miles away and cause dust storms.
Lightning is natures attempt to equalize opposing charges.
Lighting may forge between opposite charges within the cloud or between the cloud and the ground. Charge distribution within a thundercloud is the result of varying sized ice crystals sliding past each other and causing opposite charges. Updrafts separate these opposing charged ice crystals into different areas of the thundercloud.