As Central Texas continues to mourn the lives lost in the catastrophic July 4 floods, a wave of online speculation has put cloud-seeding operations under the microscope. But state officials and experts say the rumors are unfounded - and that the science and oversight behind the decades-old weather-modification programs tell a different story.
Rainmaker Technology, the private company at the center of the debate, confirmed that its last cloud-seeding mission in Texas occurred on July 2 - two full days before flood watches were issued. According to CEO Augustus Doricko, rising moisture levels led to the cancellation of further missions, and no seeding occurred on July 3 or 4. The area hit hardest by the flooding, including Kerr County and Camp Mystic, was outside Rainmaker’s permitted flight zone, based on public FAA and NOAA filings.
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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also responded, saying his department has no authority over cloud seeding - that role was transferred to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) over a decade ago. "The idea that the Department of Agriculture is controlling the weather is just misinformation," Miller said. "Our focus is on helping communities recover - not chasing conspiracy theories."
How Cloud Seeding Works
Cloud seeding isn’t new - it’s been around since the 1940s and used in Texas since the 1950s. It involves releasing tiny particles, typically silver iodide or calcium chloride, into already-formed clouds to stimulate rainfall. These particles serve as nuclei for water droplets to form, encouraging clouds to rain sooner, heavier, or longer than they might naturally.
However, cloud seeding cannot create storms out of thin air, nor can it direct where rain will fall. It’s only effective when atmospheric conditions are already primed for precipitation. Even then, the impact is modest - usually boosting rainfall by 5 to 15 percent, according to meteorologists.
Who Pays for It?
In Texas, cloud-seeding efforts are typically funded by local water conservation districts, agriculture coalitions, or municipal utilities, not the state or federal government. These groups contract with operators like Rainmaker Technology or Weather Modification, Inc., to increase rain in drought-prone regions and support crop yields.
Permits are issued and regulated by the TDLR's Weather Modification Program, and each operation must be led by a licensed meteorologist. Details about every mission - including flight dates, aircraft, and locations - must be reported to both the state and NOAA, which maintains a public national registry.
The Bottom Line
There’s no evidence that cloud seeding had anything to do with the devastating floods that struck Central Texas over the July 4 holiday. The National Weather Service attributes the extreme rainfall to remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which stalled over the Hill Country and dumped unprecedented amounts of water into rivers and low-lying areas.
At least 120 people are confirmed dead, and more than 170 remain missing, with search efforts still focused around Kerr County.
As recovery efforts continue, Governor Greg Abbott and state leaders are now turning their attention to long-term flood resilience - including emergency communication systems, sirens, and infrastructure upgrades. But for now, officials urge Texans to focus on facts - and on helping those still reeling from one of the worst natural disasters in state history.
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