Chance of rain this week

The golden warmth that’s bathed Northern California over the past several days will be replaced by more seasonally cool and wet weather, bringing a chance of light rain Thursday night and Friday, forecasters say.

High temperatures in the 80s that heated up the region early this week were predicted to drop more than 10 degrees Wednesday, though early morning fog was expected to burn off, the National Weather Service said.

But clouds should increase over the next couple of days, bringing a chance of rain Thursday and, especially, Friday, National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson said.

“We’re saying ‘chance of rain’ mainly in the North Bay, and that’s you,” Anderson said. “Amounts won’t be that much -- maybe a 10th of an inch, enough to wet the streets.”

Temperatures, expected to peak around 68 degrees Wednesday in Santa Rosa, should hover around 65 under partly cloudy skies through the weekend, he said.

A large swell coming down from the stormy Gulf of Alaska should make for big waves Friday and Saturday, with swells of 15 to 20 feet and a heavy surf advisory expected Saturday, Anderson said.

“Those should be the biggest swells of the season so far, so if you’re going to hit the beach this weekend, stay off those rocks and well back from the water’s edge,” he said.

Next week should see clearer skies and slightly warmer days, Anderson said.