In the meantime, parts of the Bay Area saw rain throughout the day. There were light showers on Highway 101 in Palo Alto, a thunderstorm reported in San Jose, and several reports of pea-sized hail in Fremont at about 7:25 a.m.
A light, steady rain fell in San Jose in the afternoon. Wet roads slowed drivers down on Saratoga Avenue near Prospect Road.
And high winds caused problems in the North Bay on Thursday. The winds knocked down power lines near Highway 116 outside Petaluma. Crews were on the scene to repair the lines and get the power back on for more than a dozen customers who were without for a time. Most of the power has been restored.
VIDEO: ABC7 Weather Forecast
In the evening, ABC7 News Meteorologist Sandhya Patel reported that most of the showers were concentrated in the South Bay and Monterey Bay areas. She says showers will diminish overnight with sunnier conditions expected for Friday and mild weather for Mother's Day.
A funnel cloud was reported in Sonoma County at 5:54 a.m. It was later determined that despite its ominous appearance, it wasn't a funnel cloud.
"There were lots of cumulous clouds and they were forming into a big head," said Sebastopol resident David Myrick.
Photos showed a swirling mass, which looked like a funnel cloud forming north of Sebastopol near Lake Sonoma.
Myrick was pretty startled.
"I was worried about my greenhouse blowing over because there was wind in all kinds of directions," he said.
TRACK THE RAIN: Street level interactive map
Luckily there was no damage at Myrick's place or anywhere else around the city, according to police. Fellow Sebastopol resident Bob Jones took notice, too
"It's scary to think about because I've been in tornadoes," he said.
PHOTOS: Sierra hit with snow, Bay Area sees rain
The National Weather Service says it wasn't a funnel cloud. Instead, it was a downdraft of precipitation known as virga.
Myrick says it was still impressive, whatever it was.
"I've never been around funnel clouds," he said. "But you can tell me right now that it wa definitely something to consider."
It's easy to track the storm on Live Doppler 7 HD anytime! Click here to download the ABC7 Weather App for free on Apple's App Store or Google Play.
ABC7 News Meteorologists Mike Nico and Sandhya Patel and reporter Cornell Barnard contributed to this report.
Pretty good rain in some areas south of us! pic.twitter.com/lR8kR5wRMW
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 8, 2015
Some areas had measurable rain here but others nothing. Showers wind down overnight. pic.twitter.com/DnO2IHXPYI
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 8, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD tracking a thunderstorm NE of Morgan Hill. Stay inside! pic.twitter.com/7hoaAJRrz4
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 8, 2015
Just received a report of 7" of snow at 6500' southwest of Kirkwood! #NorCal #Sierra #cawx
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) May 7, 2015
Livermore is getting rain again as seen on @LiveDoppler7HD. Don't ditch the umbrellas yet! pic.twitter.com/9ra36jV4w8
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 8, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD still picking up a few showers in the south bay. #whereyoulive pic.twitter.com/wAfm0fes5p
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 8, 2015
Hints of blue from Emeryville cam peaking through the clouds. pic.twitter.com/EqqHtaUewX
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
Thunderstorms firing up in Central Valley as seen on @LiveDoppler7HD right now. pic.twitter.com/AmzBj86cK2
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD showing you moisture moving west from the east. Expect showers in these areas next. pic.twitter.com/F7g2Kte5KC
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
Radar returns are increasing in S & E Bay now. I hope you have your umbrellas handy. pic.twitter.com/rVgz9GyuwF
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
Radar's tracking snow in the Sierra. Chains required on SR 4. Winter Weather Advisory until 5am FRI. pic.twitter.com/C6OI19DxqN
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
Light showers on @LiveDoppler7HD in San Jose. Have you seen any wet weather today? How about hail? pic.twitter.com/sMd9m6uRht
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD taking you down to street level. Showers over Livermore now. pic.twitter.com/3O4xW9bjEe
— Sandhya Patel (@SandhyaABC7) May 7, 2015
The storm that brought us showers today is diving southward, leaving us only a minimal chance of more rain tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dFi3D6SDdv
— Spencer Christian (@SpencerABC7) May 7, 2015
Late season #Sierra or #Tahoe skiing? I wish! Snow won't last long with those weekend highs. pic.twitter.com/DnvAd5tAcf
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD tracking a t'storm over Tracy now, moving southwest with small hail possible. #bayarearain pic.twitter.com/i6I94YKrHK
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD tracking a thunderstorm passing south over Mt Umunhum now. Small hail likely also. pic.twitter.com/QcipZzQtbF
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
Yellow & red returns on @LiveDoppler7HD shows areas likely seeing tiny hail across South Bay & Santa Cruz Mtns. pic.twitter.com/NfX4UAYK1V
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
Picture of Fremont hail & @LiveDoppler7HD at that time. Thanks you @heysooze for the "baby teeth"! pic.twitter.com/Uvq17pfI0x
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
Wet sticky snow accumulating near in Cisco Grove near I-80 now. #wxwindow pic.twitter.com/PcBU3LXqpA
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
#Snow in the #Sierra along I-80 -- chains required Kingvale - Donner. pic.twitter.com/lcFx4QECTo
— Dina Kupfer (@DinaKupfer) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD tracking new showers near Bodega Bay south to Marshall, heading southwest. #bayarearain pic.twitter.com/R1o5r7me9u
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD tracking sprinkles along Hwy 4 from Pittsburg to Antioch now. #bayarearain @LeylaGulenABC7 pic.twitter.com/WBBLO0Xb4n
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
Sutro #wxwindow showing beautiful silhouette of showers & t'storms to our east. #abc7getup pic.twitter.com/rKifp1kgD8
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
Gorgeous colors coming from our @exploratorium #wxwindow. Look how calm our bay water is! #abc7getup pic.twitter.com/kPlSvERcxU
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
#FridayEve, nah... ThunderBoomer Thursday! Your 12 Hour Day Planner Forecast: pic.twitter.com/MhBFs4lYx3
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD shows showers moving away. They redevelop this afternoon & move ne to sw across our neighborhoods. pic.twitter.com/0996oX2JJ1
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
.@LiveDoppler7HD showing possibility of rain on I-80 from Cordelia, Fairfield, Vacaville to Dixon. #bayarearain pic.twitter.com/1af969Obwi
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) May 7, 2015
