If Baba Yaga had a weather-manipulating cousin, it would surely be the Ala, a weather-wielding, crop-destroying demon with a taste for drama (and occasionally, children).

Originating from Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria, this shape-shifter can morph from a fearsome dragon to a mere gust of wind, sowing chaos in her wake. Unlike the simple hailstorm, an ala's tempest comes with a side of agricultural ruin, making her the ultimate bad-weather day excuse.

Her ability to both devastate and bless the lands places her in a unique position: feared by many but courted by the desperate. To avoid meteorological misfortunes, it’s worth forging a good relationship with an ala, as she is said to make her favourites rich and save their lives in times of trouble.