NOAA refutes right-wing claims that the government can control hurricanes

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a statement Wednesday debunking right-wing claims that the government can control hurricanes.

After Hurricane Helene in September and Hurricane Milton in October hit Florida and the inland states back-to-back, some right-wing politicians and influencers claimed that the government could control the path of the hurricanes. Among those raising questions about the recent storms was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia.

“Yes, they can control the weather,” Greene posted on X, formerly Twitter, in early October. “Anyone who says they don’t or makes fun of it is lying to you. By the way, people know and hate everyone who tries to cover it up.”

However, Greene didn't make it clear who she meant by “she.”

Entrepreneur and author Grant Cardone, who has expressed support for former President Donald Trump, questioned the path of Hurricane Milton.

“Do you think the government is using technology to manipulate weather patterns and storms?” he said on X this month.

On Wednesday, NOAA released a statement on the claims against X.

“FACT CHECK: Weather modification claims are debunked. No one creates or controls hurricanes; the technology does not exist,” NOAA wrote.

On a website accompanying the post, NOAA further debunked the claims.

“There is no technology that can create, destroy, modify, strengthen or control hurricanes in any way,” NOAA said. “All hurricanes, including Helene and Milton, are natural phenomena that form on their own due to the convergence of ocean and atmosphere conditions.”

Newsweek I emailed Greene's office and NOAA for comment.

When Greene's post about weather control went viral, a user-generated community note was added to it clarifying that existing “weather control” technology is limited to small-scale cloud formation and is unable to control large storms or create hurricanes. Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification that increases the likelihood that a cloud will produce rain or snow.

However, NOAA clarified that it is not involved in cloud formation or other weather changes.

“NOAA’s goal is to better understand and predict Earth’s systems from the ocean floor to the surface of the sun,” the website says. “We are deepening our understanding and deploying new resources to improve forecasts and give communities earlier and more accurate warnings about extreme weather events. NOAA is required by law to track weather-altering activities of others, including cloud formation, but has no authority to regulate these activities.”

There is also speculation about hurricane-related damage, as several Republicans have accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of prioritizing funds for immigrants over Americans recovering from natural disasters. Claims have been made by Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, among others.

The claims prompted FEMA to launch a website addressing the rumors and clarifying that “no money will be diverted for disaster relief purposes.”