Storm dumps more than a foot of snow on northern Oklahoma

<br>Warmer temperatures on Wednesday will begin melting the more than 12 inches of snow that fell during the latest Christmastime winter storm to hit Oklahoma in recent years. <br><br>Northern sections

Wednesday, December 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Warmer temperatures on Wednesday will begin melting the more than 12 inches of snow that fell during the latest Christmastime winter storm to hit Oklahoma in recent years.

Northern sections of the state bore the brunt of the two-day storm, with as much as 15 inches of snow reported in Miami.

The snow contributed to at least three traffic deaths on Monday and the collapse of part of a roof on a Hobby Lobby in Tulsa, officials said.

An employee checking on creaking ceiling tiles at about the time the roof collapsed received a ``minor'' bump on the head, but it didn't require hospital treatment, Tulsa Assistant Fire Chief Harry Baker said Tuesday.

Eighteen employees in the store herded about 30 customers to the wings of the building away from harm, said Karen Geiger, store manager.

A section 50 to 70 feet from front to back and 30 to 40 feet across fell down, Baker said.

Not far from Tulsa, 13 inches of snow piled up in Enid and 12 inches was reported in Grove and Waukomis.

At the height of the storm, power was knocked out to 15,000 Public Service Co. of Oklahoma customers. Electricity had been restored to all but 1,000 by Tuesday evening, and everyone should have power back on by noon Wednesday, officials said.

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Coop reported that 500 to 600 customers in Ottawa, Delaware, Craig and Mayes counties were without power Tuesday night, and some customers probably would not have service until Thursday morning.

Roads remained slick and hazardous in northern Oklahoma and in western parts of the state, but nearly 500 Oklahoma Department of Transportation trucks worked to clear streets and highways.

Patches of icy roads were reported from the Panhandle to McAlester, transportation spokesman Justin Magee said.

``Our crews have been out there since before the storm hit,'' Magee said. ``They're working hard out there, breaking the ice and clearing the roads. Their toughest work was (Monday) because the snow came down so fast.

``They would plow a road off, and the snow would cover it back up right away.''

Temperatures are forecast to climb above freezing, reaching the middle 30s to low 40s on Chistmas Day.

Before it's gone, Stevie Williams was going to make the most of the first white Christmas in Oklahoma City since 1975.

``I think it makes Christmas better,'' Williams, 17, said. ``It makes it feel more like Christmas.''