What type of precipitation can Cumulus clouds sometimes release?

Cumulus clouds are typically associated with fair weather, but they can develop into larger and more vertical structures, such as cumulonimbus clouds, under certain conditions. When these clouds do precipitate, the type of precipitation is usually brief and can often be heavy. This is due to the convective processes within the cloud, where warm air rises rapidly, leading to the development of showers that can be intense but short-lived.

The characteristic of having brief heavy showers aligns with the nature of cumulus clouds when they evolve to bring precipitation. In contrast, constant light drizzle would more commonly originate from stratus clouds, while long-lasting rain is typically associated with larger weather systems such as fronts. Freezing rain occurs under specific conditions involving temperatures around or below freezing, which is not a general trait of cumulus clouds. Thus, brief heavy showers are the most accurate representation of the precipitation type that cumulus clouds can release when they do produce precipitation.