Utilities keeping eye on expected snow storm

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Utility companies are watching and waiting as a Christmas Day storm is expected in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The National Weather Service says 4 to 8 inches of snow is possible from western Oklahoma to the Arkansas state line and up to 10 inches could fall in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas.

Kathleen O'Shea with Oklahoma Gas and Electric — which has about 798,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas — says the utility is tracking the storm system to see where repair crews might be needed. Stan Whiteford with Public Service Company of Oklahoma — which has about 527,000 Oklahoma customers — says repair crews have been notified that they could be called.

Both say snow is not as big a threat as freezing rain or high winds to down power lines.