Big waves, hazardous beach conditions expected along the coast

Big waves and hazardous beach conditions are expected along the coast early this week as the Bay Area sheds its overcast drizzle, temperatures rise inland and a chance of light rain returns for the weekend. 

A moderate northwest swell is expected to enter the Bay Area's coastal waters early Tuesday and bring waves of 15 feet to 18 feet, which will create hazardous coastal conditions for beachgoers, according to the National Weather Service. 

The biggest waves are expected along the Sonoma and Marin county coastlines, with swells diminishing late Tuesday and into early Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, higher than average temperatures are expected to peak in the mid- to upper-70s, particularly along the San Francisco Bay shoreline and the Central Coast's inland areas, according to the Weather Service. 

Those temperatures are expected to drop Thursday and Friday as increasing chances of light rain dominate the forecast heading into the weekend

The biggest chance for some weekend drizzle is in the North Bay as a large low-pressure system pushes east out of the Pacific Northwest but largely remains to the north of the Bay Area.