Around 2004 I read a book about a girl and her mother that lived in the middle of nowhere. Her mother is obsessed with a horrible storm that plagues the area, and invents a number of different suits to ‘beat the storm’ although it’s mostly in vain. One in particular is described as a rubber suit covered with heavy chains to keep her on the ground. Her mother almost dies in similar attempts many times. Possibly her Dad was killed in the storm. I know the title had the word ‘whale’ in it.
Lost Classics of Teen Lit: Name That Book! 