The Ultimate Guide to Mythical Air & Weather Creatures in Legends and Folklore

What a breeze life would be to live up in the clouds.

To be free and weightless in the golden glow of the setting sun.

And watch the birds perform their murmurations, like synchronised acrobatics in the sky.

That's what I'd imagine the life to be like for a mythical Air/Weather creature.

However, that's definitely not always the case, especially with terrifying spiritual beings such as the Japanese Yūrei and Yōkai.

Allow me to guide you through the different types of Air & Weather mythical creatures found across different cultural mythologies, and why you would never want to cross paths with a few of these creatures...

You'll be able to recognise some of the beasts and spirits on this list, as they commonly make appearances in fantasy genre films/TV shows/books/etc.

This includes the Thunderbird, most notably seen in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The Qilin, most notably seen in Shang Chi - "that's a weird horse" as described by Trevor Slattery. Or Harpies, most notably seen as the 'brides of Dracula' in Van Helsing.

But others you may have never heard of before, such as the Nue - a Japanese monkey-tanuki-tiger-snake hybrid beast that has the ability to turn into a dark cloud and bring about nightmarish visions, misfortune and illness wherever it goes.

(Psst... Google what a Tanuki is - one of the cutest things I've ever seen😍).

Read on to discover all of the tempestuous beasts/spirits/magical beings found in mythology and folklore from across the world!

Native American Folklore

Thunderbirds

• Appearance: A sacred spiritual being in the form of an enormous eagle-like bird with bright feathers and sharp talons.
• Abilities: Power, strength, and the ability to generate thunder and lightning when it claps its gigantic wings together. This consequently gives the Thunderbird the ability to conjure storms at will, make rain fall from the sky, and create tempestuous gusts of wind. It is also said they can shapeshift into a human form. Thunderbirds control the Upperworld and protect humans from evil creatures such as the giant Horned Snake from the Underworld.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Super friendly, and protects good-natured people.

Haietlik - lightning Spirit

• Appearance: A serpent creature with a 'mane' of white feathers, a long dagger-pointed head, red/black scales with a yellow underbelly, and 2 flippers for limbs.
• Abilities: An ally and weapon of the Thunderbirds (it lives within its feathers), it is usually thrown by the Thunderbird in battle like a dart due to the piercing shape of its head. The Haietlik also has the ability to spit lightning bolts at its enemies, and they swim around in the depths of the Sea so that whales and fish are never too far out of reach for fishermen (or as snacks for the Thunderbird).
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly sidekick of the Thunderbird.

Shiwanna/Cloud People - weather Spirits

• Appearance: Spirits of the dead (who lived good lives) that appear in human-like figures in the sky made out of clouds.
• Abilities: They have the ability to conjure rain and moisture wherever they go, and help with the watering/growth of crops. They're also said to travel around on Rainbows, which is pretty awesome.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly and helpful to those in the business of agriculture.

Tibetan Mythology

Druk - thunder Dragon

• Appearance: A serpent-like dragon with whiskers like a carp fish and 4 arms with 4 curved talons on each claw. The Druk is often seen holding orb-shaped jewels in each of its claws which is symbolic of wealth.
• Abilities: It has the ability to fly and create thunder through its ferocious roars.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Bhutan has adopted the Druk as their champion on their national flag, so it's somewhat friendly, but I wouldn't advise going near one.

Korean Mythology

Hongaek/Red Disaster - Cloud of Misfortune

• Appearance: A spirit made of red mist/clouds.
• Abilities: It's somewhat of a contagious entity as it will latch on to anyone who goes near the current person it has caused misfortune to (e.g. anyone at the scene of a horrible accident, such as a road collision). So it's basically a pass-the-parcel of bad juju. If you have experienced misfortune before coming into contact with an accident caused by a Hongaek, you are particularly vulnerable to it latching on to you.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Dangerous and will cause a multitude of accidents.

Japanese Folklore

Yuki-Onna - snow Ghost/Yūrei

• Appearance: A enchantingly beautiful woman with skin as white as snow and pale blue lips. She has long black silky hair, is normally quite tall, and is seen wearing a white Kimono which makes her completely blend into her environment - but you cannot see her feet, she instead hovers above the snow-covered ground.
• Abilities: She is commonly seen in snowstorms, and her icy breath has the power to freeze someone to death in an instant. Seeing as she's a ghost/Yūrei who supposedly died in the snow long ago, and her spirit is now trapped and tormented, she will often target people lost in the snow to steal their souls either through a deathly kiss or by freezing them (somewhat similar to Medusa and how she turns people into stone). Yuki-Onna also has the ability to transform into a cloud of mist and snow if she does not want to be seen.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Dangerous, if you ever see silky black hair flailing around in a snowstorm, run the other direction!

Diatengu - wind (and magic) Yōkai

• Appearance: A large semi-human being with a demonic red face and a long protruding nose. It's normally dressed in robes similar to a monk, and also has impressive feathered wings protruding from its back.
• Abilities: These Yōkai are very strong, expert swordsmen with the ability to possess humans, as well as fly, and use magic. Their magic is particularly focused around wind magic and Diatengu's are often seen with a fan in hand which can create powerful gusts of wind that they use to their advantage in battle.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not friendly, so you probably don't want to come across one or be abducted by one.

Nue - cloud Beast

• Appearance: The Nue is a beastly Japanese hybrid with the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the legs of a tiger, and has an additional snake head at the end of its tail. This creature is commonly referred to as the Japanese Chimera due to the multiple animal hybrid features found in both of their genealogy (as well as the matching snakehead tails).
• Abilities: The Nue has the ability to turn into a dark cloud and brings nightmares, misfortune and illness wherever it goes.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Probably a good one to avoid.

Kaze No Kami - wind Yōkai

• Appearance: Formless evil entities.
• Abilities: They will blow about toxic yellow breath when in close proximity to humans so that they can spread illness and disease to them. And they can also alter the wind direction and will most often afflict farmers and fishermen as the wind can greatly affect their livelihoods.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Dangerous, infectious, and menacing.

Hone Karakasa - wind (and bad weather) Tsukumogami

• Appearance: An Chinese wooden paper umbrella that has had a spirit latch on to it (hence why it is known as a Tsukumogami) and has taken on a rather skeletal form with the barebones of the wooden parasol showing through the tattered paper.
• Abilities: It is an omen of bad weather, and will fly around like a wild bird.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not dangerous, but I guess you better get ready for a storm coming!

Kamaitachi - wind Weasel Yōkai

• Appearance: A Weasel with scythe-like claws, and fur as thick as a hedgehog's spines.
• Abilities: As it flies around in the freezing cold whirlwinds, it will reach out with its claws and slice you. This will not make you bleed, but you will still feel the pain. But helps explain the biting coldness felt by icy wind.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Wrap up nice and warm to avoid these fellas.

Chinese Mythology

Qilin - magical Beasts

• Appearance: The Qilin is often described as the Chinese Unicorn, what with it's equine features and how it is sometimes seen with a magical horn protruding from its forehead (but seeing one with a horn is quite rare). This beast is also described as having these features: the head of a dragon, a mane and beard, the whiskers of a carp fish, the antlers/body/hoofs of a deer, the tail of an ox, and the scale-like skin of a glistening turquoise fish.
• Abilities: Known for being impeccably gentle creatures, they walk upon clouds so as not to harm a single blade of grass. The Qilin has light control over the wind with its magical abilities. And it also brings good fortune and prosperity when it is seen.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very friendly, sweet and gentle.

Shenlong - weather Dragon

• Appearance: A serpent-like dragon with scales in magnificent shades of blue that camouflaged it into the skies and seas. He also had 5 claws
• Abilities: This weather spirit dragon could travel across the world incredibly fast, and with its speed, it ushered the movement of winds, clouds and rain from distant lands. He could also breathe out clouds, and adjust his size to be as small as a shrew or so large that he could fit around the world. However, if Shenlong feels neglected or offended, he will cause horrendous and tempestuous storms to destroy homes and crops.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: It's best to stay on his good side!

Arabic Mythology

Jinn - wind (and fire) Spirit/Demon

• Appearance: As they're shapeshifters, they can appear as a human or animal, sometimes even giant-sized. They do not reveal their true form to humans as it is too terrifying. However, they are said to be spirits made out of wind and smokeless fire.
• Abilities: Can conjure/manifest/transform anything at their will, and have the ability to shapeshift into any form they choose. They also possess immense strength and are extremely resilient to human weapons - apart from magic.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Unpredictable, can be good and evil.

Greek Mythology

Harpies - wind Monsters

• Appearance: A large monstrous bird with its head and chest being that of a horrifying and ugly woman.
• Abilities: They assist the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus in issuing punishment to mortals (such as stealing food from King Phineus so that he could not eat, as ordered by Zeus, King of the Olympians and God of the Sky). They have also been known to torture souls on their way down to Hades' Underworld, or sometimes abduct people in the form of a gust of wind.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not nice, they will likely want to steal your food.

The Hesperides - Sunset Nymphs

• Appearance: Beautiful young women, with a golden glow aura.
• Abilities: The three Hesperides are sisters/daughters of the Titan Atlas/Nymphs of the Evening and the Golden Light of Sunsets. They live within the confines of a garden near the Atlas mountains in Africa. Here, you can find Hera's (Queen of Mount Olympus/Goddess of Marriage, Women, and Childbirth) Orchard where the trees, gifted by Gaia (a primordial Goddess/the personification of the Sky/Hera's grandmother) on her wedding day to Zeus. And it can fruit Golden Apples that grant anyone who eats them the gift of Immortality.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly, will probably want to dance and be merry with you (unless you try to steal one of Hera's Golden Apples).

Medieval Folklore / Celtic Folklore

Sylphs - Elemental Spirit of Air

• Appearance: While they are mainly invisible Air Elementals, when they reveal their form they are angelic human-sized fairies, or sometimes they can appear as woodland animals, depending on the environment you find them in. The other Elementals are Gnomes (Earth), Salamanders (Fire), and Undines (Water).
• Abilities: Said to have existed since the dawn of time, these benevolent spirits/guardians rule the wind, clouds and sky. They choose to remain invisible but can shapeshift into any form they wish, or they can connect with humans via clairvoyance. Their strength and intelligence is much greater than humans. And they also have the ability of supernatural foresight and a greater understanding of the Universe, which allows them to know secrets and universal connections that Alchemists could only ever dream of knowing.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very friendly, but also quite private.

Unicorns - Rainbow Horses

• Appearance: A glowing white mare with a single horn twisted into a point protruding from its forehead. Gusts of wind will blow through the Unicorns mane, and a rainbow will sashay its way through the sky, all to get that perfect dramatic entrance.
• Abilities: Unicorns are eternal beings and the embodiment of purity, grace, and majesty. They are said to have magical rainbow abilities and healing powers. Even their blood is said to bring life back to those on the brink of death.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly, but very aloof due to dastardly Kings wanting to steal its horn all the time.

Slavic Folklore

Ala - weather Demons

• Appearance: A gust of black wind in an indistinct beastly form.
• Abilities: They conjure awful storms and hail that specifically target and ruin the crops and produce of hardworking farmers. In their gluttony, they carry away some of the food in their winds to eat for themselves. They have even been said to be so greedy as to want to eat the Sun and Moon too, causing lunar and solar eclipses.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Quite dangerous, but it is possible to befriend them and have them as an ally.

Alkonost - wind Monster

• Appearance: Very similarly to the Mythological Greek Harpy, the Alkonost is a large monstrous bird with its head and chest being that of a woman. In this case, its human half is elegant and beautiful.
• Abilities: It is said that when it lays its eggs in the Sea, it creates terrible thunderstorms. And then, after 7 days, the eggs begin to hatch from the bottom of the seafloor and the storms and waves begin to wail and crash once more. Additionally, the Alkonost has an incredibly enchanting singing voice. So much so, that if you were to hear it, you would go mad and forget who you are - your only care in the world would be to listen to the sweet melodies of the Monster.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not good, will likely sing you to death.

Balachko - wind (and fire) Giant

• Appearance: A gruesome giant with 3 male heads.
• Abilities: One of the heads could breathe icy wind, and another could breathe fire. With its great size, the Balachko was also incredibly strong and destructive.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not friendly, will likely try to steal you if you're a damsel in distress.

Norse Mythology

Hræsvelgr - wind Eagle

• Appearance: A Jötunn in the form of a glorious eagle
• Abilities: When he flies, the batting of his wings as they move up and down causes great gusts of winds across the world. He also has the ability to shapeshift from a Jötunn into his preferred form of an Eagle.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not particularly good, but not particularly bad either.

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Currently residing in West Sussex, Maddie is a 26 y/o blogger and illustrator with a passion for mythology, legends, fairytales & folklore. You'll regularly find her escaping into fantasy books, films, TV, and games.