Savannah Pennington
Staff Writer
After the devastation of Hurricane Milton, a heated debate has emerged online in political circles: Was this catastrophic storm a naturally occurring event or something man-made? A growing number of politicians have started voicing opinions and theories that Hurricane Milton may not be entirely natural, reigniting discussions about climate change and man-made environmental impacts.
Hurricane Milton was characterized by its unusual speed of development, intensity, and erratic path, all features that raised eyebrows among both scientists and political figures. While many meteorologists attributed these phenomena to the intensifying impacts of climate change, some politicians were convinced that these anomalies were signs of human interference.
On social media platforms, specifically X and TikTok, posts alleging that the U.S. government is secretly controlling the weather have been viewed millions of times. These posts do not reference any evidence towards their claims, with many being published by accounts known for spreading conspiracy theories, as well as misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines during the pandemic.
Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene recently suggested online that the US government “can control the weather.” In another post on X, Greene stated that “everyone keeps asking, ‘Who is they?’” and added that “some of them are listed on NOAA,” referring to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The idea that any previous attempts to intervene with weather patterns have involved the worsening of hurricanes or the creation of them is false. Hugh Willoughby, a former NOAA Hurricane Research Division employee and current Florida International University professor responded to these claims, stating that government-funded attempts to modify weather in the past, like Project STORMFURY, attempted to weaken hurricanes, not worsen them.
On Oct. 10, President Joe Biden shot down Greene’s false suggestion that hurricanes have come from geoengineering, describing the claims as “beyond ridiculous,” and adding that “it’s so stupid, it’s got to stop.”
Critics of this theory argue that implying that hurricanes stem from man-made interference serves as a distraction from more pressing issues of climate change mitigation. They suggest that focusing on speculative theories could divert both resources and attention from the urgent need to address carbon emissions and improve climate resilience. On the other hand, supporters of the man-made hurricane hypothesis argue that an open-minded approach is essential in an era of rapidly advancing technology.
Scientists and environmental experts have largely dismissed the idea that Hurricane Milton was man-made; warming ocean temperatures, shifting atmospheric patterns and human-induced climate change are the primary drivers of the increasingly violent storms seen in recent years.
The current discourse around Hurricane Milton has revealed more than just political divides; it has exposed the increasing rift in public trust towards both political institutions and scientific consensus. It’s a troubling sign of how misinformation and speculative thinking can thrive in the absence of clear communication and information sharing.
The challenge lies in balancing healthy skepticism and curiosity with evidence-based policymaking and information sharing. As we battle with new technologies in a changing world, it’s critical that we ask questions. However, we must always strive to seek answers rooted in science and fact, not in fear or speculation.
