A 118 mph gust was recorded in Wyoming. Here’s what else is in store for the West

Winds whip across I-80 in Wyoming near mile marker 228, slowing down vehicles and icing up the roads on Sunday Dec. 12, 2021.

Paty Hernandez Cisneros

Amid a snowy winter weekend, high winds and icy conditions hit parts of the Mountain West — including winds up to 118 miles per hour in one area of Wyoming.

And there’s more to come.

A National Weather Service peak wind report released Sunday morning showed a 118 mph gust blasted Clark, a small community in the northern part of the state, north of Cody. To the southeast, a 76 mph gust was recorded near Casper, the Casper Star Tribune reported.

Here are the 12 hour high wind observations from across the area! Follow the link to see other reports: https://t.co/XN0u7JqFBs

High Wind Warnings are still in effect until 5PM Sunday #wywxpic.twitter.com/nkOt7AAaQw

— NWS Riverton (@NWSRiverton) December 12, 2021

Storm system brings power winds to the West

More winds are projected headed into Tuesday and Wednesday in large swaths of the West.

• A large storm system is forecasted to bring powerful wind gusts to a big portion of the western and central parts of the U.S., according to the National Weather Service Prediction Center.

A storm system will deliver powerful wind gusts to a large portion of the western and central U.S. from late Tuesday through Wednesday Night. The gusts may only last a few hours and may not occur with any rain, but they are likely to cause some impacts. pic.twitter.com/tGyU8F8Jem

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 13, 2021

• An atmospheric river event is forecasted to hit parts of central and southern California over the next two days with heavy rain fall and flash flooding in burn-scared areas, according to the National Weather Service. That same system, the service predicts, “will inundate the Western terrain with heavy snowfall. This entire storm will become a major wind event across the Plains into the Mississippi Valley Wednesday.”
• That “strong storm,” the National Weather Service reports, will “continue to impact the West Tuesday before moving from the southern Rockies across the Plains to the upper Midwest on Wednesday.” The storm’s snowfall is expected to hit several feet across the Great Basin’s mountains,

Utah weather

In Utah, winds also picked up.

• On Monday, the National Weather Service of Salt Lake City issued high wind watches for the state’s entire western side, including Tooele County to the north and, to the south, Cedar City areas.
• Utah’s forecast as of Monday evening also included winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings along the Wasatch Front.

Monday AM Weather Summary:

High Wind Watches in effect for much of western Utah including the Tooele Valley and Cedar city areas Tuesday AM thru Tuesday Evening

❄️Winter Storm Watch in effect for the southern mountains Tuesday afternoon thru Wednesday AM#utwx

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) December 13, 2021

Idaho storms

In Idaho, a “mega snow storm” dumped nearly 3 feet of new snow in some of the state’s mountain areas over the weekend, IdahoNews.com reported.

Did you see snow? Here's a look at how much snow has fallen over the mountains, so far. Periods of snow will continue through Tues, and again Wed eve through Thurs. Snow levels will rise today & Mon to 4000-5500 ft, before lowering to valley floors Mon night.#IDwx#ORwxpic.twitter.com/7P5JkDFcsM

— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) December 12, 2021

• Another storm is forecast to bring snow to Idaho’s valleys, set to hit the state late Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Boise.

❄️ Our current storm isn't over yet, but we also wanted to highlight another system set to arrive late Wednesday through Thursday that will likely bring snow to valley floors. Here's a look at potential snow amounts midweek. #IDwx#ORwxpic.twitter.com/5j5rcxs7ja

— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) December 13, 2021

Idaho is also forecast to see more wind. The state was forecast to see high winds in its southern areas, including gusts of up to 40 mph.

Monday afternoon will become very windy in southeast Oregon and southern-most Idaho, and a wind advisory will be in effect. Shown below are forecast wind gusts for Monday afternoon. Red indicates gusts of at least 40 mph. #idwx#orwxpic.twitter.com/PszS0qsaZv

— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) December 13, 2021