Meteorologists rush to social media to stop far-right conspiracies about floods

Far-right conspiracy theories are percolating through social media after the floods in Texas on July 4, and now as flooding also plagues New Mexico. It prompted several local meteorologists to issue their own fact-checks and explain some of the myths around cloud seeding.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that rumors about the "deep state" are spreading amid the weather disasters.

"Some people, emerging from the same vectors associated with the longstanding QAnon conspiracy theory, which essentially holds that a shadowy 'deep state' is acting against President Donald Trump, spread on X that the devastating weather was being controlled by the government," the report said.

The report cited Pete Chambers, a former special forces commander and frequent poster in the far-right manosphere. On July 5, he posted several screen captures of documents, demanding, “I NEED SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. WHEN WAS THE LAST CLOUD SEEDING?”

One document was about a “precipitation enhancement” company, Rainmaker, that he thinks caused the flood. The post has had over three million views.

That same claim spread among other like-minded people across X, reaching MAGA world leaders like retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, who formerly served as President Donald Trump's national security advisor. He asked, "Anyone able to answer this?"

Self-described content creator Randy Sevy tied it to former President Bill Clinton with a photo of him and Augustus Doricko, the young tech CEO and founder of Rainmaker, a cloud seeding company, "backed by Peter Thiel-linked investors."

A YouTuber with 347,000 subscribers posted his own video boasting to know "the truth about weather manipulation." It has had over 202,000 views.

Meanwhile, meteorologist Matt Jones of KSLA News 12 posted his own lesson addressing "the ridiculous comments I've been seeing on social media lately."

"Is cloud seeding responsible for the recent flash floods? NO. The process of cloud seeding is not capable of producing the type of intense rainfall that would lead to flash flooding," he wrote with an explainer about cloud seeding.

WTVT FOX 13's chief meteorologist, Paul Dellegatto, posted several screen captures of reports on cloud seeding, saying, "Apparently, CLOUD SEEDING is the now the cause of all major weather events! Texas floods? Cloud seeding! Hurricane Milton? Cloud seeding! Snow in the Florida panhandle? Cloud seeding!"

ABC13’s chief meteorologist Travis Herzog, out of Houston, has posted two explainers addressing the "viral videos" claiming cloud seeding was the culprit of the floods.

"Were cloud seeding operations conducted on the storms that produced the Texas floods? No," he wrote. "In fact, Texas regulations prohibit cloud seeding on storms that could produce severe weather, tornadoes, or flash floods. One of the companies singled out on social media for cloud seeding conducted its last operation on Wednesday, July 2nd."

He explained that "only an existing cloud can be seeded, and once that cloud has been seeded, it rains itself out. Furthermore, the cloud seeding took place southeast of San Antonio, roughly 150 miles away from Kerr County."

In another post, he noted that "Tropical Storm Barry is primarily responsible for this flood event, with an assist from upper level moisture peeled off from what was once Hurricane Flossie in the Pacific..."

As for New Mexico, the National Weather Service "monsoon awareness" page from 2018 explains that the state is affected by the North American Monsoon System (NAMS) each summer between June 15 and Sept. 30th.

Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. has reiterated during several press conferences over the past few days that a relief fund has been established through the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country for those seeking ways to help.