Final answer:
It is true that thunderstorms can occur without being associated with cyclonic activity. While they can be a component of such systems, they can also develop independently under the right atmospheric conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thunderstorms are not always associated with cyclonic activity.
True, thunderstorms can occur independently of cyclones. While tornadoes are caused by severe thunderstorms such as supercells, which feature a rotating column of air, tropical cyclones (including hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones) develop over warm ocean waters and are powered by warm, moist air and the Earth's rotation causing cyclonic motion.
Both phenomena involve strong winds and heavy rainfall, though their formations differ significantly with tropical cyclones requiring certain temperature thresholds and large-scale weather patterns.