My thunder comes before my lightning. My lightning comes before my rain. And my rain dries all the ground it touches. What am I?

Why this works

This riddle cleverly uses metaphorical language to describe the stages of a volcanic eruption. The "thunder" represents the rumbling sounds that often precede an eruption, while "lightning" refers to the flashes of light that can occur during the explosive phase. Finally, the "rain" symbolizes the ash and debris that fall to the ground, which, while initially covering the area, can eventually dry out as it settles. Thus, the sequence of thunder, lightning, and rain perfectly encapsulates the dramatic and transformative nature of a volcano's activity!