made an appearance

"Just before we set off, the heavens opened and one of the biggest downpours of the year made an appearance along with high winds" 


這段話大概看得出來要表達得意思因該是
"在出發前,天空像破了個洞下了場今年最大的雨(伴隨著強風)"
但我一直不知道那個" made an appearance "到底是什麼意思?

雖然我在
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/make+an+appearance
看到了一個解釋和用法,感覺上可能和裡面第二個例子
(to appear in a performance)
"The famous singing star made an appearance in Detroit last August"

有點像,但似乎又有點不同