SANTA MARIA, Calif. >> Scattered thunderstorms hit the coasts of central and Southern California on Thursday ahead of a stronger dousing of rain and snow expected to sweep much of the drought-stricken state before the weekend.

The storm’s first rains have been felt from Santa Maria to Santa Monica, but most of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas have remained dry so far.

And don’t expect the dousing to ease the state’s worsening water shortage, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell said.

“It won’t have any huge impact on the drought, but any little bit will help, especially if we get some snow in the mountains,” he said.

About a quarter-inch of rain is expected in Northern California before the storm winds down, National Weather Service forecaster Diana Henderson said.

“Even using the word, ‘storm,’ is probably hyperbole,” she said.

But it could end up packing a bigger punch in Southern California.

Scattered showers and possible thunderstorms Friday are expected to follow an initial period of steady rain Thursday, Kittell said.

Up to a half-inch of rain could fall in and around downtown Los Angeles, while foothill neighborhoods might see about an inch. Flooding and debris flows are possible if thunderstorms form over foothill areas stripped bare by wildfires.

In the mountains, the storm may dump up to 2 inches of snow as low as 5,000 feet.

Kittell said a mid-May storm packing so much moisture in Southern California is rare, though the region got a similar dousing last week.