Monument residents expect more snow as winter storms move through southern Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Those who live near the Palmer Divide spent their Thursday afternoon preparing for the snowfall that is expected to occur overnight and early Friday morning.

Many families came to enjoy the snow that was already on the ground and filled the parking lot at Toboggan Hill for tubing, sledding, skiing and even snowboarding.

Others prepared by clearing their driveways. Clare Wissinger said she has lived in the Woodmoor area for 30 years and enjoys blowing the snow into her driveway.

“I like being outside and I like the snow,” she said. “The bad thing about this driveway is the fact that it goes uphill and turns a corner, it’s 180 feet long.”

Wissinger said the storm that rolled through southern Colorado was far from the worst she’s ever seen.

“One time it snowed and the snow blew up to my waist, but I had a different snow blower at the time,” she said.

First responders said in addition to making sure your driveways and walkways are clear, you should also check the vents on the side and top of your home.

“That includes your furnace vent and all that so that it doesn’t get clogged and anywhere you have blowing snow, it doesn’t build up and block that,” Manitou Springs Fire Department Paramedic Jeremy Van Der Merwede said. “If you don’t have good ventilation in your fireplaces, your HVAC system, or your heating systems, it can cause your furnace and fires to not burn well and actually produce CO [carbon monoxide] and other items left in the home that may pose a hazard.”

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal if inhaled. According to the CDC, hundreds die and thousands become ill each year from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Wissinger said she always makes it a point to keep her vents clear.

“I have a vent in the back that is connected to a small heater in the living room and dining room and a small stove space and I need to keep that clean,” she said.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, and more. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

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