(… صَرْصَرٍ… ) (…screaming …): The Arabic word refers to the cold wind which has a sound. In this regard, Allah (swt) says:

 كَمَثَلِ رِيحٍ فِيهَا صِرٌّ

(…like that of a wind containing frost…) (Ali-Imran: 117)

The wind spreads the cold and makes it strong. If there is no wind, the cold remains in one area without spreading to another one. When the wind blows it spreads the cold to other areas causing more harm. Hence, the “screaming” wind is the very cold wind associated with a high sound. As known, the cold wind destroys the plants so it is a very harmful wind.

The people of ‘Ad were very arrogant towards the Prophet Hud (PBUH) and the believers. They thought they are the strongest people and the denied Allah’s (swt) signs. So what was their retribution? Allah (swt) has punished them by a very strong-sound wind during a very horrible days to make them taste the humiliating torture. Allah (swt) tells us about ‘Ad saying:

فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ

(As for ‘Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, “Who is greater than us in strength?”) (Fussilat: 15)

Because they were arrogant, Allah (swt) send them a screaming violent wind during terrible days.