A cloud seeding startup did not cause the Texas floods

In the aftermath of the catastrophic floods in Texas, many individuals have sought explanations for the disastrous events. One theory that gained traction points to a cloud seeding company, Rainmaker, suggesting that their activities led to excessive rainfall. However, experts firmly debunk this claim, emphasizing that cloud seeding had no role in the floods. Katja Friedrich, an atmospheric scientist from the University of Colorado Boulder, stated, "Cloud seeding had nothing to do with it. It’s just a complete conspiracy theory. Somebody is looking for someone to blame." Bob Rauber, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, echoed those sentiments, clarifying that while Rainmaker conducted operations in the vicinity days prior to the storm, their influence was negligible. Cloud seeding has been practiced since the 1950s, involving the dispersal of small particles, typically silver iodide, into clouds. This process encourages super-cooled water droplets to freeze into ice crystals, which can then grow large enough to fall from the cloud as precipitation. Rauber explained that only clouds with sufficient super-cooled water can be effectively seeded, and most cloud seeding in the U.S. occurs during winter in mountainous regions, where it can enhance snowpack and subsequently replenish water reservoirs. Recent studies have begun to delve deeper into the efficacy of cloud seeding. In a detailed investigation conducted in Idaho in early 2017, researchers discovered that seeding clouds could yield an additional 186 million gallons of precipitation over a series of operations. While this might significantly benefit drought-stricken areas, Rauber pointed out that this amount pales in comparison to the trillions of gallons processed during major storms, like the one that caused the Texas floods. Moreover, Rauber highlighted the complexities of cloud types in Texas, noting that the cumulus clouds dominant in summer are distinct from the orographic clouds typically seeded in mountainous regions. These summer clouds are often short-lived and less conducive to cloud seeding. Rauber concluded that even if cloud seeding were attempted on such clouds, the amount of rain produced would be minimal, and in the case of thunderstorms, natural processes are already highly efficient at generating precipitation.