The Texas Floods of 2025: Examining the Role of Cloud Seeding in a Natural Disaster

In early July 2025, the Texas Hill Country was struck by a devastating flash flood, one of the deadliest in its history. This catastrophic event, fueled by torrential rainfall, claimed numerous lives and left communities reeling.

Amid the tragedy, a contentious debate has emerged: could cloud seeding—a weather modification technique used to enhance precipitation—have contributed to the disaster?

Details of the Flood

The flash flood hit the Texas Hill Country, particularly Kerr County, in the early hours of July 4, 2025. Rainfall was extraordinary, with some areas receiving over 10 inches in a few hours. The National Weather Service reported a rain gauge in Mason County recording more than 18 inches within 24 hours. The Guadalupe River surged by 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming the region. Prior to this event, the area had endured prolonged drought, leaving the soil hard and unable to absorb the sudden deluge, which worsened the runoff and flooding.

The human cost was staggering. By July 9, 2025, at least 119 fatalities were confirmed, with 95 in Kerr County alone. Among the most heartbreaking losses were children at Camp Mystic, a summer camp along the river, where at least 27 girls were reported missing. The floodwaters destroyed homes, infrastructure, and vehicles, leaving a trail of devastation. Emergency response teams, including local, state, and federal agencies, alongside volunteers, have been tirelessly conducting rescues, recovering bodies, and aiding survivors. The disaster’s scale prompted a federal declaration for Kerr County, mobilizing resources for recovery.

What is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique designed to increase precipitation. It involves dispersing substances, such as silver iodide, into clouds to stimulate the formation of ice crystals or water droplets, potentially leading to rain or snow. This method is often employed in drought-prone regions to boost water supplies for agriculture, reservoirs, and ecosystems.

In Texas, cloud seeding is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and is primarily used in areas like the Panhandle and South Texas, where rainfall is typically scarce. The Texas Hill Country, while subject to occasional heavy rains, frequently experiences dry conditions, making it a candidate for cloud seeding to alleviate drought and support water needs. However, the technique’s effectiveness is limited, enhancing precipitation only marginally under specific conditions, and it remains a subject of scientific debate.

Cloud Seeding Two Days Before the Flood

Two days before the flood, on July 2, 2025, Rainmaker Technology Corp. conducted cloud seeding operations over eastern south-central Texas. According to CEO Augustus Doricko, two clouds were seeded, dissipating between 3 and 4 p.m. that day—more than 24 hours before the storm that triggered the flooding. The company suspended operations indefinitely that same day due to unusually high atmospheric moisture, adhering to state regulations that halt seeding when flooding risks arise.

Experts assert that this cloud seeding could not have caused the flood. Cloud seeding can increase precipitation from existing clouds by up to 20%, but it cannot generate storms or produce the extreme rainfall—over 10 inches in hours—that occurred. The flood’s cause is attributed to natural factors, including remnants of Tropical Storm Barry and elevated moisture levels, which converged to create a massive storm system.

Weather Manipulation Worldwide: Successes and Risks

Cloud seeding is practiced globally to address water scarcity and other weather challenges. In the United States, states like California, Colorado, and Nevada use it to enhance snowfall in mountains, bolstering water reserves. China employs extensive cloud seeding to fight drought and reduce air pollution, while the United Arab Emirates uses it to increase rainfall in its desert climate. These efforts have achieved modest successes, such as slight precipitation increases.

However, weather manipulation carries risks and controversies. Critics warn of unintended consequences, like shifting weather patterns or causing excess rain in unintended areas. Environmental concerns also arise from chemicals like silver iodide. While no evidence links cloud seeding to extreme events like the Texas floods, historical attempts at weather control—such as hurricane suppression—have largely failed due to the atmosphere’s complexity, illustrating the limits of human intervention.

The CEO’s Perspective

Augustus Doricko, CEO of Rainmaker Technology Corp., has firmly denied any link between his company’s cloud seeding and the Texas floods. In public statements, he expressed sympathy for the victims and clarified that the July 2 seeding involved clouds that dissipated well before the storm. He emphasized that operations were halted due to high moisture levels, a proactive measure under state guidelines. Doricko reiterated that cloud seeding cannot create storms, aligning with expert opinions that the flood resulted from natural weather patterns, not weather modification.

The Texas floods of July 2025 were a tragic natural disaster, intensified by the region’s geography and prior drought conditions. Although cloud seeding occurred two days earlier, scientific consensus dismisses it as a cause, citing its limited capacity to influence weather on such a scale. Cloud seeding remains a tool for managing water in dry regions like Texas, but it cannot trigger extreme events like this flood.

The controversy, however, reveals broader issues. Public speculation and misinformation, fueled by social media, have wrongly implicated cloud seeding, highlighting the need for better education on weather modification. As climate change increases extreme weather frequency, reliance on science—not conspiracy—is vital. Weather manipulation offers potential benefits but requires strict oversight to ensure safety and maintain trust, balancing innovation with the unpredictable forces of nature.