Skiers and snow boarders are enjoying one of the best winters in the Cascades, but now experts warn the snow up there has the potential to create flooding problems down below.

KGW

Hydrologist John Lea measures the snowpack on Mount Hood.

On Mt. Hood, there is no shortage snow. "We've built up a pretty good snow pack,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Schneider.

The snow depth in Oregon and southwest Washington ranges from one and a half to almost twice of normal, according to the NWS.

Data shows the snow around the 2,000 feet elevation level is even deeper than it was in 1996, the last time the region saw major flooding.

With the snow pack is so large meteorologists at the NWS said they are going to have to keep a closer watch on the incoming storm systems.

While there are no major storms heading our way for the moment, Schneider said all it takes is tropical weather pattern that dumps a lot of rain over a short period of time.

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Emergency officials worry the melting snow could end up in local rivers and cause the type of flooding not seen in more than ten years.

Oregon’s Emergency Management office even suggested people to look out for potential landslides and even encouraged homeowner to protect themselves with insurance if possible.

Experts worry not just how much melting snow there is but where it comes from. "The low elevation show is very volatile, it melts off very quickly,” said Schneider.

So with that danger, meteorologists said they wait and watch for signs of a fast melt off.