Maryland is heading into the heart of severe weather season, and a Trivia Tuesday question is using that timing to test a basic piece of storm knowledge: what radar feature can indicate a possible tornado on the ground.

The answer choices are Hook echo, Debris ball, Outflow boundary, and Heavy rain. The question lands now because spring and early summer often put residents on alert for fast-moving storms, and radar becomes one of the few tools people can check in real time when the sky turns dark.

This is not a report of an observed tornado. It is a trivia-style weather item, which gives it a different job in the news feed: to prompt readers to think about what they would look for if severe weather moved in. That matters because the difference between a warning sign and routine storm clutter can shape how people react when seconds count.

The hook echo is the radar signature most closely associated with a tornado or a storm that may produce one, because it shows a curved appendage on the storm that can point to rotation. A debris ball is another radar term tied more directly to a tornado already on the ground, while an outflow boundary and heavy rain are common storm features that do not by themselves signal a tornado.

The timing also matters because the article is appearing while Maryland is entering the most active stretch of its severe weather calendar. Even in a feed that may include unrelated items from other topics, the weather question stands out as a reminder that radar is only useful if readers know what they are looking at before a storm arrives.

For now, the key takeaway is simple: if the radar shows a hook echo, it is time to pay close attention. In a season built around sudden changes, that shape can be the difference between a passing storm and a warning that demands action.