Big surf and waves running up the beach hit Lincoln City’s Nelscott District Friday afternoon, as promised earlier by National Weather Service Portland (NWS) in a beach hazards statement issued Thursday.

Wave watchers beheld breakers from a safe distance Friday and were awed by the power of the ocean as it slammed into the rocks beneath Joe the Sea Lion at 35th Street beach access in Nelscott.

NWS came through on the prediction for increased chance of sneaker waves — from Thursday to Sunday with the biggest waves happening Friday — as evidenced by waves running up the beach farther than normal.

“The waves will have the highest energy on Friday,” NWS Meteorologist Treena Jensen said Thursday in a phone interview. “Sneaker waves will be possible throughout the weekend.”