diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f117a09bcbe..dd677267ac5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     Bug #3765: DisableTeleporting makes Mark/Recall/Intervention effects undetectable
     Bug #3778: [Mod] Improved Thrown Weapon Projectiles - weapons have wrong transformation during throw animation
     Bug #3812: Wrong multiline tooltips width when word-wrapping is enabled
+    Bug #4240: Ash storm origin coordinates and hand shielding animation behavior are incorrect
     Bug #4329: Removed birthsign abilities are restored after reloading the save
     Bug #4383: Bow model obscures crosshair when arrow is drawn
     Bug #4384: Resist Normal Weapons only checks ammunition for ranged weapons
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 09794d15f7e..c3eadff5992 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -1119,41 +1119,36 @@ void CharacterController::updatePtr(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr)
 
 void CharacterController::updateIdleStormState(bool inwater)
 {
-    bool inStormDirection = false;
-    if (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->isInStorm())
+    if (!mAnimation->hasAnimation("idlestorm") || mUpperBodyState != UpperCharState_Nothing || inwater)
     {
-        osg::Vec3f stormDirection = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStormDirection();
-        osg::Vec3f characterDirection = mPtr.getRefData().getBaseNode()->getAttitude() * osg::Vec3f(0,1,0);
-        inStormDirection = std::acos(stormDirection * characterDirection / (stormDirection.length() * characterDirection.length()))
-                > osg::DegreesToRadians(120.f);
+        mAnimation->disable("idlestorm");
+        return;
     }
-    if (inStormDirection && !inwater && mUpperBodyState == UpperCharState_Nothing && mAnimation->hasAnimation("idlestorm"))
-    {
-        float complete = 0;
-        mAnimation->getInfo("idlestorm", &complete);
 
-        if (complete == 0)
-            mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Storm, MWRender::Animation::BlendMask_RightArm, false,
-                             1.0f, "start", "loop start", 0.0f, 0);
-        else if (complete == 1)
-            mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Storm, MWRender::Animation::BlendMask_RightArm, false,
-                             1.0f, "loop start", "loop stop", 0.0f, ~0ul);
-    }
-    else
+    if (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->isInStorm())
     {
-        if (mUpperBodyState == UpperCharState_Nothing)
+        osg::Vec3f stormDirection = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStormDirection();
+        osg::Vec3f characterDirection = mPtr.getRefData().getBaseNode()->getAttitude() * osg::Vec3f(0,1,0);
+        stormDirection.normalize();
+        characterDirection.normalize();
+        if (stormDirection * characterDirection < -0.5f)
         {
-            if (mAnimation->isPlaying("idlestorm"))
+            if (!mAnimation->isPlaying("idlestorm"))
             {
-                if (mAnimation->getCurrentTime("idlestorm") < mAnimation->getTextKeyTime("idlestorm: loop stop"))
-                {
-                    mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Storm, MWRender::Animation::BlendMask_RightArm, true,
-                                     1.0f, "loop stop", "stop", 0.0f, 0);
-                }
+                mAnimation->play("idlestorm", Priority_Storm, MWRender::Animation::BlendMask_RightArm, true,
+                                1.0f, "start", "stop", 0.0f, ~0ul);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                mAnimation->setLoopingEnabled("idlestorm", true);
             }
+            return;
         }
-        else
-            mAnimation->disable("idlestorm");
+    }
+
+    if (mAnimation->isPlaying("idlestorm"))
+    {
+        mAnimation->setLoopingEnabled("idlestorm", false);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
index fcb9926be48..ce328ba4a15 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
@@ -710,10 +710,9 @@ void WeatherManager::update(float duration, bool paused, const TimeStamp& time,
     if (mIsStorm)
     {
         osg::Vec3f playerPos (player.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
-        osg::Vec3f redMountainPos (19950, 72032, 27831);
-
+        playerPos.z() = 0;
+        osg::Vec3f redMountainPos (25000, 70000, 0);
         mStormDirection = (playerPos - redMountainPos);
-        mStormDirection.z() = 0;
         mStormDirection.normalize();
         mRendering.getSkyManager()->setStormDirection(mStormDirection);
     }