Exotic weather

[Fenral]

I think, similar to the strange weather in Mor Dhona caused by aether of all elements, the weather in those two zones can be attributed to the immense volume of crystals of a very specific element. The islands in the Sea of Clouds are kept afloat primarily by wind-aspect crystals, while the islands in the Churning Mists are kept afloat by primarily lightning-aspect crystals.

Without a side quest to confirm it, I'd say that something, maybe even a random spark, triggers a reaction in the area's crystals causing them all to light up at once, resulting in the unique weather phenomena we see. Like light through a colored lens, it's not consuming anything, just changing the "color" of the neutrally-balanced aether around it.

</talking about magic in videogames like I'm some kind of scientist or something>