Have you ever wondered if humans could control the weather? According to Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, it’s not just possible—it’s something officials should do to stop disasters like the wildfires raging in California. But does this idea hold up? Experts and scientists think not.
Last Sunday, Greene posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Why don’t they use geoengineering like cloud seeding to bring rain down on the wildfires in California? They know how to do it.”
Why don’t they use geoengineering like cloud seeding to bring rain down on the wildfires in California?
They know how to do it.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) January 12, 2025
But what exactly is cloud seeding? It’s a process where planes or ground-based generators release tiny particles, such as silver iodide, into clouds to encourage rainfall. It’s been around since the 1940s and is used in some places to increase snowfall or improve water supplies. However, there’s a big catch: cloud seeding only works if there’s already moisture in the atmosphere. “When the relative humidity is like 4%, you DON’T HAVE ANY WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE,” atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci explained. “Cloud seeding requires moisture to be present; cloud seeding just helps it fall.”
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To understand Greene’s comments, let’s first break down what cloud seeding actually does. The Desert Research Institute (DRI) says cloud seeding is often used in winter to improve snowfall in mountains, ensuring a better water supply. However, it’s not a magic solution. It can’t create rain out of nothing, and it certainly can’t be used in very dry conditions—like the kind fueling wildfires in southern California right now. “Marjorie — we can’t make water spontaneously appear,” Cappucci added.
Wildfires are devastating California. As of now, the blazes have killed at least 25 people, burned over 40,000 acres, and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate. The Palisades and Eaton fires are among the most destructive in Los Angeles history. But Greene’s suggestion ignores the science. Meteorologists, including Louisville’s Bryce Jones, were quick to criticize her claim. “Please keep politicians away from weather,” Jones said. “And keep politics entirely out of it. This is exhausting.”
Please keep politicians away from weather. And keep politics entirely out of it. This is exhausting https://t.co/ic7CHmChoD
— Bryce Jones (@BryceJonesWx) January 12, 2025
Experts agree cloud seeding wouldn’t work in these conditions. Southern California was experiencing a severe drought even before the fires began. Without enough moisture in the air, there’s nothing to enhance, making cloud seeding useless.
This isn’t the first time Greene has made controversial claims about weather. In October, after Hurricane Helene caused destruction across the U.S., she suggested the federal government might have created the storm using weather modification techniques. “Everyone keeps asking, ‘who is they?’” Greene wrote at the time. “Well, some of them are listed on NOAA, as well as most of the ways weather can be modified.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) does publish reports on weather modification projects, but these focus on small-scale efforts like cloud seeding. There’s no evidence of technology capable of creating hurricanes or large-scale weather events. President Joe Biden didn’t hold back when responding to Greene’s comments. “Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather,” he said from the White House. “It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s so stupid. It’s got to stop.”
Cloud seeding is a fascinating technology, but it has clear limits. It can help in very specific situations, like boosting water supplies in mountain regions, but it’s not a tool for ending wildfires or controlling hurricanes. Conspiracy theories about weather control have been around for years, but scientists consistently debunk them. “There is no weather modification technique that would allow the government to create a hurricane,” NOAA explains.
Weather is complex, and controlling it isn’t as simple as Greene suggests. While cloud seeding has its uses, it’s not a fix for every problem. Understanding science and focusing on real solutions are the keys to tackling challenges like wildfires. So next time you hear someone claim the government can control the weather, remember: science doesn’t support it. Let’s leave weather modification to the experts and focus on facts, not fiction.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
