Is Hurricane Milton man-made? The many conspiracy theories doing the rounds

Hurricane Milton’s devastation in Florida has triggered a surge in conspiracy theories, with misinformation spreading like wildfire across social media.

As the storm barrelled through central Florida, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake, various narratives have emerged that suggest weather manipulation, government control, and far-reaching political plots.

While experts dismiss these theories as baseless, their popularity continues to grow.

What has happened so far?

Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 hurricane at approximately 8:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph).

The storm slammed into Siesta Key, a barrier island near Sarasota, causing immense destruction. By 11 pm, wind speeds reduced to 105 mph (165 kph), downgrading it to a Category 2 hurricane, yet it remained a deadly force.

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In addition to deadly tornadoes and widespread flooding, more than 1.8 million homes and businesses were left without power, according to PowerOutage.us. St Petersburg alone saw rainfall totals of 16.6 inches (422 mm), prompting a flash flood emergency in the Tampa Bay area.

In Fort Pierce, two deaths were reported by NBC News following a suspected tornado, with local authorities estimating that 100 homes were destroyed across St. Lucie County, where 17 tornadoes had been recorded.

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With over 9,000 National Guard personnel deployed and 50,000 electricity grid workers on standby, Florida was bracing for a disaster of massive proportions.

As the storm is expected to cross the Florida peninsula, emergency evacuations were ordered for two million people already weary from Hurricane Helene’s devastation just two weeks earlier. The back-to-back storms have left billions of dollars in damage across the region.

What conspiracy theories are taking root?

Despite the visible destruction caused by Hurricane Milton, a wave of conspiracy theories soon followed.

For instance, Republican US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested, “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.” This claim, echoed by numerous social media users, has sparked a frenzy of speculation about the government’s ability to manipulate hurricanes.

Yes they can control the weather.

It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.

— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) October 4, 2024

Online, claims range from the storm being purposefully engineered using weather modification techniques, to it being part of a larger political plot. “People need to wake up. This isn’t a natural storm,” one social media post read, garnering millions of views.

But meteorologists and experts quickly shut down such claims. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reiterated that hurricane modification is not possible due to the sheer size and power of these weather systems.

“There is no technology that humans possess that can create, destroy, modify, or steer hurricanes,” Howard Diamond, a director at NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory told Reuters. Despite this, misinformation about weather control continues to thrive on platforms like X and TikTok.

Can any of these theories be true?

One of the most persistent claims is that cloud seeding, a technique used to increase rainfall in dry areas, was employed to fuel Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification. However, experts point out that cloud seeding is ineffective in regions like the Gulf of Mexico, where moisture levels are already high.

A spokesperson for NOAA explained, “Cloud seeding doesn’t work in hurricanes because there is already plenty of moisture and energy within the system.”

Another popular theory blames the HAARP (High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program) project, previously managed by the US military, for manipulating the weather. HAARP, which studies the upper atmosphere using high-frequency radio waves, has long been a target for conspiracy theorists, with claims that it controls natural disasters.

However, scientists involved in the project firmly deny these assertions. “HAARP can’t create, modify or manipulate a hurricane,” said a HAARP spokesperson, underlining the program’s scientific focus rather than weather control.

What is the ‘real’ cause behind the extreme weather?

While these conspiracy theories have captivated online audiences, the scientific consensus points to climate change as the real driver behind the intensification of hurricanes like Milton.

Rising sea temperatures, fueled by human activity, have led to more powerful storms with higher wind speeds and more intense rainfall.

Hurricane Milton, for instance, rapidly intensified as it passed over the Gulf of Mexico, where sea surface temperatures were 1-2°C warmer than usual. Over the course of just 12 hours on October 7, wind speeds surged from 90 mph to 175 mph (150 km/h to 280 km/h), according to US National Hurricane Center data.

For some social media users, this rapid intensification was viewed as proof of manipulation, but experts explain it as a consequence of climate change. Experts have long held the argument that storms are expected to intensify faster as the planet warms.

Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida two weeks earlier, showed a similar pattern of rapid strengthening over warm waters. A recent study found that the unusually high sea surface temperatures in Helene’s path were made hundreds of times more likely due to human-caused warming.

In addition to higher wind speeds, global warming has led to increased atmospheric moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall during hurricanes.

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Rising sea levels also exacerbate storm surges, heightening the risk of coastal flooding. Florida’s sea levels have risen by more than 18 cm (7 inches) since 1970, making the state particularly vulnerable to the dfamaging effects of storms like Milton.

Despite clear evidence linking climate change to stronger hurricanes, conspiracy theorists continue to dismiss these facts as “scaremongering.” Many argue that discussions around global warming are politically motivated, a view that experts say undermines public understanding of natural disaster preparedness.

Other false claims…

False claims about FEMA relief efforts have also spread in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. One widely shared post falsely suggested that FEMA was offering loans instead of aid to victims, citing a $750 payment as evidence.

However, FEMA clarified that the $750 is a flexible, upfront payment meant to cover essential supplies like food and water, not a loan. Jaclyn Rothenberg, a spokesperson for FEMA, confirmed that “FEMA does not ask for emergency assistance money back.”

Other rumours involve a doctored video of US President Joe Biden, with some users suggesting that he linked hurricane preparation to COVID-19 vaccinations. The video, which went viral, was taken from a 2021 speech where Biden encouraged vaccinations to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in evacuation shelters during hurricane season.

With inputs from agencies