What is the role of a river catchment's 'lag time' in the context of flood hydrographs?

Lag time' is the period between peak rainfall and peak discharge in a river and is a key component in the analysis of flood hydrographs. Understanding lag time can help predict the likelihood and severity of floods. Factors like land use, soil type, and gradient can all influence lag time, and thus, the river catchment's response to precipitation events.