The Plainview thunderstorm reached its maximum rainfall rate after about 40 minutes, but the canopy continued expanding and only leveled off closer to 60 minutes. What does this timing best show about storm development?
Answer
A
The storm's upper-level structure can continue organizing after surface rainfall has already passed its peak.
B
The canopy expanded because outflow spreading near the ground temporarily supported cloud growth aloft.
C
The offset shows that surface rainfall is not a perfect indicator of when the storm's structural maturity will occur.
D
The later canopy expansion simply reflects lingering cloud motion after the storm's main energy source had already weakened.
Explanation
Rainfall reached its maximum at about 40 minutes, while the canopy kept expanding until closer to 60 minutes. This gap shows that peak surface rainfall does not necessarily coincide with the storm’s structural maturity, so rainfall alone is not a perfect indicator of storm development.
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