Waterspout touches down over Lake Berryessa in Napa County

Strange weather hit the Bay Area Wednesday, bringing thunderstorms and hail to parts of the region and reports of a waterspout over Lake Berryessa.|

Strange weather hit Northern California Wednesday, bringing thunderstorms and grape-size hail to parts of the region, and reports of a waterspout that touched down over Lake Berryessa in Napa County.

Matt Allen, an angler and fishing guide with Tactical Bassin', caught video of the phenomenon while on a boating guide trip on Lake Berryessa. He posted the video on YouTube.

In the 14-second video, you can see the funnel cloud reaching toward the water of Lake Berryessa.

"That is wild," Allen is heard saying in the background.

Another video posted on Facebook by Charlie Postlethwait showed the funnel cloud clearly touching the water for a few seconds before lifting up again.

A cold front had swept through the area, creating unstable air and conditions conducive to the weather event, according to experts.

Funnel clouds were also reported in other areas of the state. Weather officials are still confirming reports of a tornado touchdown in Stanislaus County.

The brief storm cleared the way for clear skies Thursday, promising a high of mid-70s in Santa Rosa, and growing to mid-80s through the weekend. Temperatures will cool again by Monday.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.