Cloud seeding is under scrutiny in Tasmania, where residents link recent severe flooding events to this weather modification technique.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
In Tasmania, residents are attributing devastating flooding incidents to cloud seeding, a technique used to enhance precipitation by introducing ice nuclei into certain clouds. This method, which aims to augment snowpack and streamflow, has come under fire for potentially exacerbating weather-related disasters.
A social media post on X (formerly Twitter) by @ArtemisForNow revisited the severe flooding that Tasmania experienced nearly eight years ago, directly associating it with cloud seeding activities. The post referred to a 2016 incident where Hydro Tasmania, the state’s government-owned energy company, carried out cloud seeding operations over the Derwent River just one day before what was described as the worst flooding in 40 years. The floods resulted in three fatalities and caused over AU$180 million ($115.46 million) in damages.
More recently, massive rainfall in late February centered around the town of St Helens on Tasmania’s northeast coast led to significant flooding, renewing concerns over cloud seeding. Luke Johnston from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported a record-high 145 millimeters (5.7 inches) of rainfall at the local airport. The flooding disrupted major roads and damaged infrastructure, including the St Helens District High School, which was closed for several days for safety assessments.
The severe weather conditions also impacted the St Helens Marine Rescue, whose base was struck by lightning, and the Tasmania State Emergency Service, under the direction of Mick Lowe, responded to nearly 30 calls for help. Tasmania Police issued warnings against attempting to drive through flooded roads, emphasizing the risks even in shallow water.
Meteorologist Tom Saunders, reporting for ABC News, noted that the heavy rainfall patterns were reminiscent of those caused by cloud seeding in previous years, which had similarly impacted eastern Australia from 2020 to 2022. With the potential emergence of La Niña, concerns are mounting that the upcoming season could see even more severe flooding, lasting until early 2025.
Watch this clip showing similar impacts of cloud seeding techniques in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, here.
This video is from the Vampire Slayer channel on Brighteon.com.
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