Wind

In the Super Mario Bros. series, wind appears in a few games. It is an obstacle in games. While wind can not hurt the player, it can blow them into an enemy or into a abyss.

Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
In Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, Wind appears for the first time. While it is dangerous at times, it is needed to clear some levels. Some gaps are so big that springs are needed along with the wind to traverss the gap.

Super Mario 64
In some ice levels of Super Mario 64 there will be a big gust of Icey wind that will carry the player over a gap.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Wind reappears in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Like in the Lost Levels it is needed to reach certain parts of the level. It is rare in this game because it only appears in 2-4. A new feature to the wind is that coins blow with it and so does sand. The wind also stops enemys in there tracks.

Trivia

 * Strangly in New Super Mario Bros. Wii when the wind is about to come, the enemies all turn towards the wind.