Superposed-epoch plot obtained in the same way as in Fig. 11 but for a match with the cycle 24 rise (thick red curve) over the 36 months preceding July 2011. The overlaid red rectangle framing the extreme values shows a much lower range of past observed sunspot maxima and only a slightly extended range for the times of maxima. The lowest cycles seem to be characterized by a rather flat maximum, with a late peak just preceding the ultimate decline of solar activity.