Subzero temperatures chill Southern Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Temperatures dropped below zero Friday night as Southern Colorado residents adapted to feels-like temperatures in the negatives.

Southern Colorado residents spent their Saturday in a variety of ways. Some cleared their driveways and sidewalks of the snow that fell Friday night while others opted to enjoy the snow, breaking out the tubes and sleds on Toboggan Hill Road in Monument.

Griffin Anderson, a USAFA cadet, said he and his friends had originally planned to spend their Satuday skiing.

“We were thinking of going up to Vail or Breckenridge but I don’t know, with the traffic and everything, we decided it probably wasn’t the best idea but this is honestly just as fun,” he said.

Anderson said he was surprised to find only a few people made their way out to the hill.

“I think it’s because it’s so cold, from what I’ve heard it’s usually pretty busy,” he said. “It feels freezing but I mean, if you have enough layers on and tubing, you’re moving up and down the hill so it feels pretty alright.”

Medical experts said those who choose to venture outdoors need to be aware of the risk of frostbite. The medical director of UCHealth’s Burn & Frostbite said if you think you have frostbite and need medical help, don’t hesitate.

“It really is an emergency, time is tissue and what we don’t want to do is have people come in days later because then, it’s too late,” Dr. Arek Wiktor said.

If you suspect you have frostbite, here are some steps you can take:

• Prevent additional exposure to the cold.
• Rewarm the affected area in warm (not hot) water for 15–30 minutes.
• Keep the affected area elevated to reduce swelling.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen if warming is painful.
• Avoid walking on frostbitten feet or toes.

The another danger that comes with subzero temperatures is the freezing of melting snow.

While many roads across Colorado Springs had some level of clearing, one driver 11 News spoke to said that wasn’t the case up in Teller County.

“You can probably go up to 45 miles an hour or sometimes 30 miles an hour because it’s so dangerous,” Josue Mayorga said.

Mayorga said he took his family to Cripple Creek to see the Colorado Ice Castles on Friday. He said their drive back to Denver was so rough, he had to pull over in Colorado Springs to clear out his wheel wells.

“My car was shaking too much,” he said. “It was so packed it was not allowing to move up or down.”

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