The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season is projected to last until December, with recent storms causing damages estimated in the hundreds of billions. Experts warn that late-season hurricanes pose a significant threat to vulnerable communities.
Hurricanes release about 5 x 10¹⁹ joules of energy per day, which is approximately 200 times the world's total daily electricity production, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This immense energy is enough to power 9.64 trillion 60-watt bulbs for a day.
On October 9, conspiracy theories regarding hurricane activity gained traction, with claims that hurricanes Helene and Milton were engineered by government programs to target specific areas. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested that weather control is possible, despite official denials.
The High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), often cited in these claims, is focused on studying atmospheric phenomena affecting radio signals, not manufacturing hurricanes. The project, initiated in 1993, is currently managed by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Creating a hurricane would require immense energy and specific atmospheric conditions, including a hot ocean and minimal wind shear. Meteorologist Prof. Kerry Emanuel emphasized that the technology and energy needed to steer hurricanes remain beyond current capabilities.
While cloud seeding has been used to encourage rainfall, it does not equate to controlling hurricanes. Historical attempts to manage hurricanes, such as Project Stormfury in the 1960s and 70s, yielded inconclusive results.