Storm and Flood Damage in Monument, CO

Updated November 12, 2026

Storm season in Monument does not really end. Winter brings deep snow and ice dams, spring brings heavy wet snowstorms, and summer brings hail and the July and August monsoon. The town sits on the southern slope of the Palmer Divide, high enough that storms often hit harder here than in Colorado Springs, and I-25 over Monument Hill is one of the first roads to close when they do. A March 2021 storm shut the interstate from Interquest Parkway north to Castle Rock.

Winter and spring: snow, ice and melt

Heavy snow sitting on a roof is not usually the problem. The problem is what happens next. Sunny days melt the top layer, the water runs to the cold eaves, and it freezes again overnight. Over a few cycles an ice dam forms, and meltwater backs up under the shingles. It shows up inside as a wet stain along an outside wall, a drip at a window head, or peeling paint near the ceiling line. Our post on ice dams on Colorado Springs area roofs explains why and how to prevent them.

When that same snow melts off the yard, it soaks the soil around the foundation. Window wells fill. That is when calls about wet basements pick up, and the basement flooding in Monument page covers what happens next.

Summer: hail and fast runoff

Hail season runs roughly May through August. A strong storm can crack shingles, split skylights, shred window screens and dent gutters in minutes. The leak may not show up until the next rain. See hail damage and ceiling stains for what to check.

Afternoon thunderstorms also bring intense rain. Monument Creek runs along the west side of town after flowing down through Palmer Lake, and Dirty Woman Creek drains much of the area around Highway 105 and Jackson Creek Parkway. Most homes are not near enough to either creek to see creek water, but short bursts of heavy rain can push runoff across driveways, into garages and through low doors and window wells.

Steps to take once it is safe

1. Stay away from wet areas near electrical panels, outlets or fixtures.
2. Catch active drips with buckets and move belongings out of the way.
3. Photograph roof damage from the ground, plus every wet ceiling, wall and floor.
4. Tarp roof openings only if it can be done safely, or have a roofer do it.
5. Keep receipts for emergency supplies or a place to stay.

What storm cleanup involves

The crew figures out where the water came from and what category it is. Clean water from snowmelt through a roof opening can often be dried in place after targeted removal. Runoff that came across the ground carries soil and bacteria and is treated as contaminated, so porous materials it touched usually come out. After that, drying equipment runs for several days with daily readings.

Cost factors

The company that comes out inspects and gives you a written estimate before work begins. What moves it:

Insurance by cause

Hail and wind damage to the roof is usually a wind and hail claim, often with a separate higher deductible in Colorado. Interior water that entered through storm damage may fall under that same claim. Ice dam leaks are covered by some policies and limited by others. Rising groundwater and surface runoff usually require flood insurance. For more, see does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Colorado.

Learn more about the town on the Monument area page. The main storm flood damage page covers the service in more depth, and water damage restoration in Monument handles leaks from other sources. A line that froze during the same cold front belongs under burst pipe cleanup in Monument.

Sources and official resources

• Contractor license lookup (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department)
• Homeowners insurance help (Colorado Division of Insurance)
• IICRC: restoration industry standards body
• Flood insurance basics (FEMA FloodSmart)
• Colorado Springs weather warnings (National Weather Service, Pueblo)