The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on Tuesday morning for large and powerful surf conditions that are expected to make it hazardous for coastal activities such as swimming, surfing and rock fishing throughout the day.
Waves of up to three metres are forecast to hit Sydney beaches on Tuesday, particularly at south-facing breaks, according to Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke.
Mr Dutschke said the overnight maximum wave height was recorded around the eight-metre mark well off Sydney's coastline, but "we probably won't get to that point from here on in. I'd say we have peaked".
A big clean southerly swell was lining up into the Bate Bay beaches this morning with clean offshore winds creating perfect conditions.
The waves are still too much for the open beaches but Cronulla Point and all locations in the south have great waves. Conditions are smooth under a light westerly breeze.
South facing beaches were seeing solid 2.5m to 3m (8ft-10ft) surf with moderate SE winds creating a few bumps.
Conditions are predicted to settle down over the next few days.
Organisers of the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition will keep a close eye on the conditions on Tuesday, after a number of artworks on Tamarama Beach were swallowed by huge swells that surged the length of the beach on Monday afternoon.