diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index f42edafd4..311d072c5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -521,6 +521,12 @@ namespace MWBase
                                        const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName) = 0;
 
             virtual void activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) = 0;
+
+            /// @see MWWorld::WeatherManager::isInStorm
+            virtual bool isInStorm() const = 0;
+
+            /// @see MWWorld::WeatherManager::getStormDirection
+            virtual Ogre::Vector3 getStormDirection() const = 0;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index ddfba51ce..81183da3c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "character.hpp"
 
 #include <OgreStringConverter.h>
+#include <OgreSceneNode.h>
 
 #include "movement.hpp"
 #include "npcstats.hpp"
@@ -234,6 +235,8 @@ void CharacterController::refreshCurrentAnims(CharacterState idle, CharacterStat
                              1.0f, "start", "stop", 0.0f, ~0ul);
     }
 
+    updateIdleStormState();
+
     if(force && mJumpState != JumpState_None)
     {
         std::string jump;
@@ -550,6 +553,45 @@ void CharacterController::updatePtr(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr)
     mPtr = ptr;
 }
 
+void CharacterController::updateIdleStormState()
+{
+    bool inStormDirection = false;
+    if (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->isInStorm())
+    {
+        Ogre::Vector3 stormDirection = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStormDirection();
+        Ogre::Vector3 characterDirection = mPtr.getRefData().getBaseNode()->getOrientation().yAxis();
+        inStormDirection = stormDirection.angleBetween(characterDirection) < Ogre::Degree(40);
+    }
+    if (inStormDirection && mUpperBodyState == UpperCharState_Nothing && mAnimation->hasAnimation("idlestorm"))
+    {
+        float complete = 0;
+        mAnimation->getInfo("idlestorm", &complete);
+
+        if (complete == 0)
+            mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Torch, MWRender::Animation::Group_RightArm, false,
+                             1.0f, "start", "loop start", 0.0f, 0);
+        else if (complete == 1)
+            mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Torch, MWRender::Animation::Group_RightArm, false,
+                             1.0f, "loop start", "loop stop", 0.0f, ~0ul);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        if (mUpperBodyState == UpperCharState_Nothing)
+        {
+            if (mAnimation->isPlaying("idlestorm"))
+            {
+                if (mAnimation->getCurrentTime("idlestorm") < mAnimation->getTextKeyTime("idlestorm: loop stop"))
+                {
+                    mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Torch, MWRender::Animation::Group_RightArm, true,
+                                     1.0f, "loop stop", "stop", 0.0f, 0);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        else
+            mAnimation->disable("idlestorm");
+    }
+}
+
 bool CharacterController::updateCreatureState()
 {
     const MWWorld::Class &cls = mPtr.getClass();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
index 5cefe13bc..59c20db8f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ class CharacterController
 
     bool updateWeaponState();
     bool updateCreatureState();
+    void updateIdleStormState();
 
     void updateVisibility();
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
index 545d34bdf..000a1d409 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ void SkyManager::setWeather(const MWWorld::WeatherResult& weather)
         {
             if (!mParticleNode)
             {
-                mParticleNode = mCamera->getParentSceneNode()->createChildSceneNode();
+                mParticleNode = mCamera->getParentSceneNode()->createChildSceneNode(Ogre::Vector3(0,0,100));
                 mParticleNode->setInheritOrientation(false);
             }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp
index 753230e7f..db66c091b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             RefData();
 
             /// @param cellRef Used to copy constant data such as position into this class where it can
-            /// be altered without effecting the original data. This makes it possible
+            /// be altered without affecting the original data. This makes it possible
             /// to reset the position as the orignal data is still held in the CellRef
             RefData (const ESM::CellRef& cellRef);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
index ab5ec0004..df78711ad 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ void WeatherManager::setFallbackWeather(Weather& weather,const std::string& name
     if (offset != std::string::npos)
         weather.mCloudTexture.replace(offset, weather.mCloudTexture.length() - offset, ".dds");
 
+    weather.mIsStorm = (name == "ashstorm" || name == "blight");
+
     mWeatherSettings[name] = weather;
 }
 
@@ -213,6 +215,8 @@ void WeatherManager::setResult(const String& weatherType)
     mResult.mAmbientLoopSoundID = current.mAmbientLoopSoundID;
     mResult.mSunColor = current.mSunDiscSunsetColor;
 
+    mResult.mIsStorm = current.mIsStorm;
+
     mResult.mParticleEffect = current.mParticleEffect;
 
     mResult.mNight = (mHour < mSunriseTime || mHour > mNightStart - 1);
@@ -318,6 +322,7 @@ void WeatherManager::transition(float factor)
 
     mResult.mNight = current.mNight;
 
+    mResult.mIsStorm = current.mIsStorm;
     mResult.mParticleEffect = current.mParticleEffect;
 }
 
@@ -771,3 +776,13 @@ void WeatherManager::switchToNextWeather(bool instantly)
         }
     }
 }
+
+bool WeatherManager::isInStorm() const
+{
+    return mResult.mIsStorm;
+}
+
+Ogre::Vector3 WeatherManager::getStormDirection() const
+{
+    return Ogre::Vector3(0,-1,0);
+}
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp
index 4d0458249..8aa3d2635 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
         bool mNight; // use night skybox
         float mNightFade; // fading factor for night skybox
 
+        bool mIsStorm;
+
         std::string mAmbientLoopSoundID;
 
         std::string mParticleEffect;
@@ -102,7 +104,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         // Duration of weather transition (in days)
         float mTransitionDelta;
 
-        // No idea what this one is used for?
+        // Used by scripts to animate signs, etc based on the wind (GetWindSpeed)
         float mWindSpeed;
 
         // Cloud animation speed multiplier
@@ -121,6 +123,12 @@ namespace MWWorld
         // Rain sound effect
         std::string mRainLoopSoundID;
 
+        // Is this an ash storm / blight storm? This controls two things:
+        // - The particle node will be oriented so that the particles appear to come from the Red Mountain. (not implemented yet)
+        // - Characters will animate their hand to protect eyes from the storm when looking in its direction (idlestorm animation)
+        // Possible effect on movement speed?
+        bool mIsStorm;
+
         std::string mParticleEffect;
 
         // Note: For Weather Blight, there is a "Disease Chance" (=0.1) setting. But according to MWSFD this feature
@@ -156,6 +164,11 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         float getWindSpeed() const;
 
+        /// Are we in an ash or blight storm?
+        bool isInStorm() const;
+
+        Ogre::Vector3 getStormDirection() const;
+
         void advanceTime(double hours)
         {
             mTimePassed += hours*3600;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 30024d310..35042b3ff 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -1998,6 +1998,22 @@ namespace MWWorld
             return 0.f;
     }
 
+    bool World::isInStorm() const
+    {
+        if (isCellExterior() || isCellQuasiExterior())
+            return mWeatherManager->isInStorm();
+        else
+            return false;
+    }
+
+    Ogre::Vector3 World::getStormDirection() const
+    {
+        if (isCellExterior() || isCellQuasiExterior())
+            return mWeatherManager->getStormDirection();
+        else
+            return Ogre::Vector3(0,1,0);
+    }
+
     void World::getContainersOwnedBy (const MWWorld::Ptr& npc, std::vector<MWWorld::Ptr>& out)
     {
         const Scene::CellStoreCollection& collection = mWorldScene->getActiveCells();
@@ -2313,6 +2329,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     {
         MWMechanics::CreatureStats& stats = actor.getClass().getCreatureStats(actor);
 
+        // TODO: this only works for the player
         MWWorld::Ptr target = getFacedObject();
 
         std::string selectedSpell = stats.getSpells().getSelectedSpell();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 8cb2ac18a..69b72b533 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -591,6 +591,12 @@ namespace MWWorld
                                        const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName);
 
             virtual void activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor);
+
+            /// @see MWWorld::WeatherManager::isInStorm
+            virtual bool isInStorm() const;
+
+            /// @see MWWorld::WeatherManager::getStormDirection
+            virtual Ogre::Vector3 getStormDirection() const;
     };
 }