風 and 嵐: wind and stormy weather
Separate wind direction and strength from the broader storm situation.
Wind direction and strength
風 (かぜ) means wind. 「海から風が吹いています」 says wind is blowing from the sea.
「風が強くなりました」 says the wind became stronger. It does not say the direction changed.
Stormy weather
嵐 (あらし) means a storm with fierce wind or similarly rough conditions. 「嵐が近づいています」 says a storm is approaching.
「嵐の後で庭を片付けました」 places tidying the garden after the storm, not during its approach.
Figurative context
「拍手の嵐が起こりました」 figuratively describes a storm of applause. It does not report actual weather.
「風は弱まりましたが、雨は続いています」 says the wind weakened but rain continues. Separate changes in the individual weather elements.
Does 「拍手の嵐」 refer to an actual storm?
Show the answer and why
No. It compares a powerful burst of applause to a storm.